Uttar Pradesh CM stamp on SP poll list likely to be stronger
The SP had announced in June names of 143 candidates with no sitting MLAs.
Lucknow: With new power equations emerging in the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, following the marginalisation of state president Shivpal Yadav and the increase in the statue of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, the list of candidate for the upcoming assembly elections is being revamped.
The CM will now have a greater say in the selection and 40 per cent of the sitting party legislators may not be given tickets.
A party source said Mr Akhilesh Yadav has compiled feedback on the performance and popularity of the party MLAs and it is on this basis that their re-nomination will be decided.
The SP had announced in June names of 143 candidates with no sitting MLAs. The CM, it is learnt, is all set to make sweeping changes in this list, too.
For instance, the name of Aman Mani Tripathi, who had been named as SP candidate from Nautanwa assembly seat, is likely to be struck off after he was arrested for the murder of his wife by the CBI. Another name is that of sitting MLA Veer Singh who recently roughed up an official in Chitrakoot.
“A number of candidates having criminal antecedents will be struck off the list by the chief minister who will now play a decisive role in selecting candidates. The chief minister wants young candidates with a clean image this time and there will be no compromises. Besides, some candidates named earlier have been found to be lacking in the progress of their campaign. These are expected to face the axe.