Samajwadi Party has made a major political reshuffle in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, just before the MLC elections. Dr. Sanjayan Tripathi, who announced rebellion by taking down the party flag after being denied ticket from BJP, met Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday and joined SP.
Soon after this, SP changed its candidate from Gorakhpur-Faizabad seat. The candidate for Agra teacher seat was also changed. The decision to change candidates on two seats simultaneously has increased the stir in the politics of UP.
Dr. Sanjayan Tripathi was a contender for BJP ticket from Gorakhpur-Faizabad seat. BJP made Dhruv Kumar Tripathi its candidate in his place. Sanjayan Tripathi openly expressed his displeasure after the ticket was canceled. He had removed the BJP flag from his car. Along with this, an emotional announcement was also made among the workers to contest the elections as an independent candidate. Sanjayan had expressed his displeasure at being ignored despite working for a long time for the party.
The whole game changed after meeting Akhilesh
After displeasure with BJP, Sanjayan Tripathi's political stance changed rapidly. On Saturday he met SP President Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow. After this he joined the membership of Samajwadi Party. Shortly after Sanjayan's entry into SP, the party changed the ticket of the earlier declared candidate Kamlesh Yadav for the Gorakhpur-Faizabad seat and declared Sanjayan Tripathi as its candidate. That is, from the same seat from where he was seeking BJP ticket, he will now contest on SP ticket against BJP's declared candidate Dhruv Kumar Tripathi.
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Changed candidate on Agra seat also
SP did not make changes only in Gorakhpur-Faizabad seat. The party also changed its candidate in Agra teachers constituency. Here first Prakash Chandra Gupta was made the candidate. Now former MLC Dr. Akash Aggarwal has been fielded in his place. In this way SP has changed its candidates on two MLC seats at the same time.
Regarding the change of candidate, Akhilesh Yadav said that this change has been done with the consent of the previously declared candidates. The party has expressed gratitude to both the former candidates for their cooperation and sacrifice. However, Sanjayan Tripathi's case is the most discussed in this entire reshuffle.
Vinay Shankar Tiwari's role in bringing in SP
The role of former MLA Vinay Shankar Tiwari is also being told in Sanjayan Tripathi's meeting with Akhilesh Yadav. After the meeting, Sanjayan entered SP and then he was made the candidate from Gorakhpur-Faizabad seat. The Tiwari family has been active in Gorakhpur politics for a long time and many leaders of the family are now with the Samajwadi Party.
After Sanjayan Tripathi joining SP, the contest for Gorakhpur-Faizabad MLC seat has also taken a new form. BJP has fielded Dhruv Kumar Tripathi here, while SP has now placed its bet on Sanjayan Tripathi.
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Major reshuffle of SP before MLC elections
The decision to change candidates on two seats just before the Legislative Council elections is an important organizational change for the SP. Especially with the ticket given to Sanjayan Tripathi, the contest on Gorakhpur-Faizabad seat has become more discussed. Now it has to be seen what effect this sudden reshuffle of SP has on the electoral equation of both the seats and how BJP moves its strategy forward after this change.