The Samajwadi Party (SP) has announced its candidate for the Pilibhit seat, naming ex-minister Bhagwat Saran Gangwar in its latest list of nominees. This decision comes after initial speculation that the party had reached out to Varun Gandhi, offering him a ticket. However, late on Wednesday night, the SP released its sixth list, finalizing Gangwar as its nominee for the crucial constituency.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav stated that the party’s organization would determine the course of action regarding the Pilibhit ticket. Despite initial talks with Varun Gandhi, the party opted to nominate Bhagwat Saran Gangwar for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. This move underscores the SP’s strategic decision-making process and its commitment to fielding strong candidates in key constituencies.
Pilibhit holds significance due to its political history, notably as the seat where former Union minister Maneka Gandhi, Varun’s mother, has contested in previous elections. Maneka’s political journey in Pilibhit spans several decades, marked by victories under different party banners. While Varun successfully clinched the seat in 2009 and 2019, Maneka’s legacy and past victories continue to shape the electoral landscape in the constituency.
With the nomination of Bhagwat Saran Gangwar, the SP aims to challenge the BJP’s stronghold in Pilibhit and present a formidable candidate to contest in the upcoming polls. Gangwar’s candidacy signals the party’s resolve to field candidates with strong grassroots connections and electoral appeal. As the election season unfolds, the Pilibhit constituency is poised to witness a keenly contested battle between political heavyweights vying for supremacy in this crucial electoral battleground.
