SP releases first list

The Samajwadi Party, in an attempt to grab the first-mover’s advantage, released a list of 55 candidates from UP for the next Lok Sabha elections. The list includes four members of Mulayam Singh Yadav’s clan, including the party boss himself. The SP thus became the first major party to name its Lok Sabha candidates, just a day after the Congress declared that party general secretary Rahul Gandhi will lead its election campaign.
The BSP is said to have completed its list but is yet to make it public, while the BJP is likely announce its LS candidates from UP in December. UP has a lion’s share among states with 80 LS seats.
The SP is supporting the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, but by releasing the list on the eve of the winter session of Parliament, Mulayam may be trying to tell the Congress that it cannot be taken for granted and that UPA-2 may not complete its term which ends in 2014. Also, the thinking in SP is that early elections will suit the party.
If the Lok Sabha elections are held on schedule, Mulayam fears that apart from rivals, his party will also have to fight anti-incumbency. Mulayam, who harbours prime ministerial ambitions, has set a target of winning 60 seats in UP to be able to play a key role in the formation of the next Central government.
The SP has not announced its candidates for Rae Bareli and Amethi yet, and placed strong candidates against friends turned-foes Beni Prasad Verma and Raj Babbar. Also missing from its list is actor Jayaprada. Raja Bhaiyya’s cousin has been denied ticket from Pratapgargh, and his rival’s name is there. There will be no “walkovers” to BJP’s Rajnath Singh and RLD’s Jayant Chaudhary. Two dons-turned-politicians, too, have got tickets.
Mulayam will contest from Mainpuri, his daughter-in-law Dimple, who won a byelection unopposed from Kannauj, will fight for the same seat. SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav’s son Akshay Yadav will make his debut from Ferozabad.
Besides family members, the SP has given ticket to Neeraj Shekhar, son of former PM Chandra Shekhar, from Ballia. UP speaker Mata Prasad Pandey will contest from Domariaganj, represented by Congress’s Jagdambika Pal.