New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's wife Dimple Yadav is likely to be nominated to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha by-election for the Kannauj seat.
The seat was vacated when Yadav resigned after his election to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council. Yadav had won the Kannauj seat thrice in a row after making his electoral debut in 2000.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha on Wednesday said filing of nominations will take place between May 30 and June 6, while voting will be done on June 24. Votes will be counted on June 27.
The Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had carefully chosen the Kannauj seat falling in the socialist pocket borough Farrukhabad region. Akhilesh had won both Kannauj and Firozabad Lok Sabha seats during 2009 general elections. However, he opted to retain Kannauj seat.
The Samajwadi Party nominated Dimple for the Firozabad seat in the ensuing by-election in which she was defeated by film star Raj Babbar.
Ensuring victory at Kannauj is crucial for Akhilesh Yadav who took over as the state chief minister barely two months back and may test his popularity. The Congress party may likely not field its candidate and extend support to the Samajwadi Party nominee.
However, deposed former chief minister Mayawati may try to score a point by nominating a formidable candidate on behalf of the Bahujan Samaj Party that she heads in her bid to embarrass Mulayam and Akhilesh Yadav.
