BJP launches 7 rookies in bypolls, leaves Pratapgarh to ally Apna Dal

LUCKNOW: In a new strategy spin for crucial bypolls to 11 assembly seats next month, BJP catapulted seven grassroot-level functionaries to the centrestage of a high-stakes battle. The newbies will be taking on Opposition heavyweights in key constituencies, barring Rampur, Jalalpur and Lucknow Cantonment, where seasoned BJP leaders are in the fray. While announcing 10 candidates on Sunday, BJP left Pratapgarh to ally Apna Dal, which put Rajkumar Pal in fray.
While Suresh Tewari has been given the ticket from Lucknow Cantonment, Rajesh Singh from Jalalpur, Bharat Bhushan Gupta will draw the battle lines in the high-voltage Rampur seat, where Samajwadi Party’s Tanzeen Fatima, wife of embattled SP leader Azam Khan is in the fray. Tewari, a three-time BJP MLA from Lucknow Cantonment and current president of BJP's Awadh unit, will take on Arun Dwivedi of BSP and Major Ashish Chaturvedi of Samajwadi Party. While all three parties have put up Brahmins, Congress has placed its bet on Dilpreet Singh, a Sikh.
Likewise, in Kanpur's Govind Nagar seat, BJP decided to field its district president Surendra Maithani, who will test the electoral waters for the first time. Maithani will take on SP's Samrat Vikas and Devi Prasad Tewari of BSP and Karishma Thakur of Congress.
In Rampur, seat vacated by senior SP leader Azam Khan after he was elected to Parliament, BJP fielded Bharat Bhushan Gupta, who hails from the trader community and is currently district-level party treasurer. Gupta contested on a BSP ticket against Azam Khan in 2012, but lost. He joined BJP before 2017 assembly elections. And this time, he will be up against SP's Tazeen Fatima, wife of Azam. BSP and Congress have fielded Zubair Masood Khan and Arshad Ali Khan respectively. This comes as a big setback for cine-star-turned politician Jaya Prada, who was staking claim for a BJP ticket in Azam's citadel. She had earlier contested against Azam in the Lok Sabah elections from Rampur seat, but lost.
In Gangoh, BJP decided to field a newbie, Kirat Singh, who’s a district-level party functionary. Singh would face the challenge from BSP's Irshad Chaudhary and Congress' Noman Masood. Similarly, in Iglas reserved seat, the party has given the ticket to Rajkumar Sahyogi, a district party functionary. BSP and Congress have fielded Abhay Kumar and Umesh Diwakar, respectively. SP has given seat to its ally, Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal, which announced Suman Diwakar as its candidate.
In Manikpur assembly seat of Chitrakoot, BJP fielded Anand Shukla, a member of party state executive committee. Shukla will be facing SP candidate Nirbhay Singh Patel, BSP's Raj Narain Kol and Congress' Ranjana Pandey. In Zaidpur reserved seat of Barabanki, BJP placed its bet on Ambrish Rawat, a local unit party functionary. He will be up against SP's Gaurav Kumar Rawat, BSP's zonal coordinator Akhilesh Ambedkar and Congress' Tanuj Punia, son of senior Congress leader and former MP, PL Punia.
In Jalalpur, the seat which fell vacant after the election of BSP MLA Ritesh Pandey to Lok Sabha, BJP has decided to field Rajesh Singh, a Thakur. Rajesh happens to be the son of former SP MLA from the constituency, Sher Bahadur Singh, who switched to BJP before 2017 assembly elections.
He will be challenged by SP's Subhash Rai and BSP's Chhaya Verma, daughter of BSP legislative party leader Lalji Verma. Congress has fielded Sunil Mishra, a Brahmin.
BJP has fielded Saroj Sonkar from Balha reserved seat. He will be up against SP's Kiran Bharti, BSP's Ramesh Chandra and Congress's Mannu Devi. Sonkar too is a local unit functionary and has never contested an election.
In Ghosi in Mau district, BJP is fielding Vijay Rajbhar, general secretary of district unit. BJP's decision to field a Rajbhar from Ghosi is seen as a move to counter former ally, SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar who has been portraying himself as the sole messiah of Rajbhars Vijay will be challenged by SP's Sudhakar Singh, an OBC. BSP here has played a Muslim card by fielding Abdul Qayyum, while Congress has fielded Raj Mangal Yadav.