By Reshma Pasupuleti 
Today marks a significant political event as Akhilesh Yadav, the chief of the Samajwadi Party, is set to file his nomination from the Kannauj Lok Sabha constituency. This move comes amidst a spirited electoral contest, with Bharatiya Janata Party’s Subrata Pathak, the incumbent MP from Kannauj, drawing a cricket analogy likening their electoral battle to an India vs Pakistan match.
“In a democracy, elections are the biggest festival. They should be interesting… When Akhilesh Yadav sent Tej Pratap here, he understood… If the match had been with Tej Pratap, it would have been like an India vs Japan cricket match. Now, the match is like India vs Pakistan (Subrata Pathak against Akhilesh Yadav),” remarked Pathak, emphasizing the intensity of the electoral competition.
The comparison comes against the backdrop of the 2019 general elections when BJP’s Subrata Pathak emerged victorious over Akhilesh Yadav’s wife, Dimple Yadav, in Kannauj.
Announcing Yadav’s nomination filing, the Samajwadi Party took to social media, confirming the schedule for Yadav’s candidacy submission.
“National President Akhilesh Yadav will file his nomination papers from the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat at 12 pm tomorrow as the Samajwadi Party candidate,” the party declared in Hindi, underlining Yadav’s formal entry into the electoral fray.
Ahead of this announcement, Akhilesh Yadav expressed confidence in the Samajwadi Party’s prospects in Kannauj, predicting a resounding victory.
“The question here is of a historic victory from the seat. The BJP will become history in this election as people have made up their minds for the INDIA bloc. People are going to vote against the NDA,” Yadav asserted in an interview with PTI, highlighting the momentum building in favor of his party.
This decision follows the recent declaration of Yadav’s nephew, Tej Pratap Yadav, as the Samajwadi Party’s candidate from Kannauj. Tej Pratap, the son-in-law of Lalu Prasad Yadav and former MP from Mainpuri, adds another dimension to the electoral dynamics in the constituency.
Akhilesh Yadav boasts a formidable electoral record in Kannauj, having won the seat thrice – in 2000, 2004, and 2009. He vacated the constituency in 2012 upon assuming the role of Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Dimple Yadav succeeded him and served as the MP of Kannauj until 2019.
Presently, Akhilesh Yadav serves as an MLA in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, representing the political landscape’s continued evolution and his enduring influence in the state’s politics.