Times News Network
Elections to five graduates’ and six teachers’ constituencies of UP Legislative Council will be held on Oct 23, with counting scheduled for Oct 27. The last date of filing nominations is Oct 6. Polling will be held from 8am to 4pm on Oct 23. The election process will be completed before Oct 31.
The elections have been announced as the terms of the members elected from these constituencies are due to end on Dec 6. Akash Agarwal, who won as an independent but was a contender for the BJP ticket this time, has been named the candidate for the Agra Graduates constituency. Announcing the candidatures of Sanjayan Tripathi and Akash Agarwal, Akhilesh thanked previously announced candidates Kamlesh Yadav and Prakash Chandra Gupta, respectively, for adhering to the decisions of the party.
“We have decided with the consent and cooperation of the two colleagues who were the former SP candidates that Akash Agarwal and Sanjayan Tripathi will be the candidates for the upcoming election,” Akhilesh said at a press conference in Lucknow. “Both of our party leaders will be given suitable responsibilities once the SP is voted to form govt,” Akhilesh said. He said instead of improving the education system in the state, BJP was involved in rampant discrimination during voter registration, and officials were also supporting the saffron brigade. “School peons have been designated as teachers, and even those who are not teachers have been registered as voters,” he said.
In the political circles the move is being seen as SP’s attempt to capitalise on discontent among aspirants overlooked by the BJP and sharpen the contest in the MLC polls. Expressing his gratitude to Kamlesh Yadav and Prakash Chandra Gupta, Akhilesh expressed confidence that the two would ensure the victory of Tripathi and Agarwal. The outgoing MLCs include six BJP members, three SP members and two independents.
Lucknow : In a strategic move ahead of the UP Legislative Council teacher and graduate constituency elections, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday fielded a BJP rebel and another a contender for BJP ticket after inducting them into the party, replacing his party candidates announced earlier. On Saturday, Akhilesh inducted BJP dissident Sanjayan Tripathi into the party and named him the candidate from Gorakhpur-Faizabad Teachers constituency.