SP, Congress Tensions Rise Over UP By-Elections

In Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has announced candidates for six out of ten assembly seats in upcoming by-elections, including Tej Pratap Yadav for the Karhal seat and Naseem Solanki for Sisamau. These by-elections, due to seats vacated largely by members who became MPs, will see the SP contesting in collaboration with the Congress, though tensions have arisen as the SP announced candidates without consulting them. The BJP is yet to finalize its candidate for Karhal, with Anujesh Singh Yadav as a possible contender, possibly setting up a Yadav vs. Yadav contest. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has also decided to field candidates in all ten seats, aiming to leverage local support, particularly from Jatav communities. The by-elections are crucial for all parties as they seek to solidify their positions ahead of the 2024 general elections. The political dynamics are further complicated by the aftermath of the recent Haryana elections, where Congress did not perform as expected, impacting its alliance strategy in UP.