Samajwadi Party Changes Meerut Lok Sabha Candidate: Here's What Led Akhilesh Yadav To Do So

Samajwadi Party's has recently announced its decision to replace Bhanu Pratap Singh with Sardhana MLA Atul Pradhan as its candidate from the Meerut Lok Sabha seat for the upcoming elections as per a report by The Indian Express.

Expressing gratitude to SP president Akhilesh Yadav for the opportunity, Pradhan emphasised his deep-rooted connection to Meerut and his commitment to advocating for the marginalised.

But what made Akhilesh Yadav led Samajwadi Party to re-consider its earlier decision?

Pradhan's track record, including his recent victory over BJP's Sangeet Som in the 2022 Assembly polls, signals a formidable challenge to BJP's Arun Govil, known for his role as Lord Ram in Ramayana.

A longstanding member of the SP and a Gurjar community representative, Pradhan's political journey started during his university days, eventually leading to his wife's bid for the Meerut mayoral post with SP's support.

The initial confusion surrounding Bhanu Singh's nomination from the seat highlighted the importance of a candidate with grassroots support, a void that Pradhan's candidacy seeks to fill. Singh's lack of local backing and his status as an outsider had raised concerns within the party.

The Meerut constituency, with its diverse voter base including Muslims, Jats, Gujjars, and Scheduled Castes, presents a complex electoral landscape. However, Pradhan's standing within the party and his active involvement in local politics have positioned him as a strong contender.

Despite Pradhan's previous electoral setbacks, his consistent efforts and rapport with Akhilesh Yadav have earned him the party's confidence.

Meanwhile, the BJP remains confident in Arun Govil's mass appeal as well as his local roots.

With this, the battle for Meerut is poised to be a closely watched contest, with both parties fielding candidates having distinct backgrounds and electoral strategies.