Mon Nov 11 19:40:11 UTC 2024: ## Family Affair: SP and BJP Battle for Karhal in Uttar Pradesh Bypoll

**Karhal, Uttar Pradesh, November 12, 2024:** The bypoll for the Karhal Assembly seat in Uttar Pradesh has become a high-stakes family affair, with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vying for victory. The seat fell vacant after sitting MLA Akhilesh Yadav, the SP chief, was elected to the Lok Sabha from Kannauj.

The SP, aiming to retain its stronghold on the Yadav-dominated seat, has deployed a massive force of workers and leaders to campaign for Tej Pratap Singh Yadav, Akhilesh’s nephew, who is contesting against BJP candidate Anujesh Pratap Singh. The BJP candidate, a former SP member, is married to Sandhya Yadav, sister of SP MP Dharmendra Yadav.

The SP is leaving no stone unturned, organizing numerous rallies and door-to-door campaigns, with top leaders like Shivpal Singh Yadav, Dimple Yadav, and Dharmendra Yadav engaging with voters. The party hopes to secure victory by over a lakh votes and bolster its social base, targeting a diverse coalition of Backward Classes, Dalits, and Minorities (PDA).

The BJP, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is countering the SP’s PDA strategy by focusing on the Yadav community, praising the legacy of late SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav while criticizing the current leadership. The BJP is also highlighting the importance of religion, claiming the SP is neglecting the sentiments of Lord Krishna devotees in Mathura.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is also in the fray, with candidate Avinash Kumar Shakya targeting the Shakya community, which is the second-largest social group in Karhal after the Yadavs.

The bypoll is expected to be a close contest, with both parties deploying significant resources and campaigning strategies to secure victory. The outcome will be a significant indicator of the political landscape in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the next general election.

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