Samajwadi Party Declares Bypoll Candidates Amid Tensions with Congress

The Samajwadi Party announced candidates for six out of ten assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, sparking tensions with the Congress, which is seeking five of these seats. This comes in the wake of recent Haryana election results, where BJP secured a major victory.

The Samajwadi Party has unveiled candidates for six of the ten assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh slated for bypolls, further intensifying tensions with its ally, Congress. The announcement follows assembly poll results from Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir.

Reacting to the development, BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi suggested the move reflects the impact of the Haryana election results, alleging that SP is asserting dominance over Congress by fielding candidates in constituencies claimed by Congress. Notably, several of the SP candidates are related to prominent political figures in the state.

The announcement has stirred political dynamics in Uttar Pradesh, where nine assembly seats are vacant following their MLAs' election as MPs. The SP, part of the INDIA bloc, is navigating its seat-sharing terms with Congress, which demands to contest five seats. Meanwhile, the BJP confidently anticipates winning these seats in the by-elections.

(With inputs from agencies.)