The Saifai family could play a crucial role in BJP’s Mission-80 in Uttar Pradesh. Winning the 80 seats in the state is vital for any party to gain power at the national level. Recognizing the challenge posed by the Saifai family, the BJP is devising a new strategy to secure the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat, which has traditionally been a stronghold of the Samajwadi Party (SP).
The Mulayam family, based in Saifai, holds significant political influence in Uttar Pradesh. As the Lok Sabha elections approach, discussions about potential candidates for the family’s parliamentary seats are gaining momentum. Akhilesh Yadav, the president of the SP, is expected to contest from Kannauj, while Dimple Yadav, the sitting MP, is unlikely to change her seat in Mainpuri. Shivpal Yadav’s candidacy from Azamgarh is also under discussion, and Dharmendra Yadav and Akshay Yadav are exploring political possibilities in Badaun.
For the BJP to achieve its goal of winning all 80 seats, it is essential to field a strong candidate in Mainpuri who can challenge the Saifai family’s dominance.
Aparna Yadav emerges as the most viable option for the BJP, as the emotional connection of the people towards the family has increased after the demise of Mulayam Singh. The BJP believes that Mainpuri can only be won when a candidate is associated with Mulayam Singh’s name, making Aparna Yadav the best choice. Mainpuri has historically been won by the Samajwadi Party in Mulayam Singh Yadav’s name. However, after Mulayam Singh’s death, the sympathy factor strengthened, leading to Dimple Yadav’s significant victory margin in the by-elections. The BJP believes that by fielding a candidate from the Mulayam family, the Samajwadi Party will not benefit much from the sympathy factor. Therefore, Aparna Yadav can provide strong competition from the BJP’s side. Recent developments suggest that Aparna Yadav was considered as a potential candidate from Mainpuri, with rumors circulating that she may have stepped back under the persuasion of other members of the Saifai family. It remains to be seen if there will be a contest between the Mulayam family’s daughters-in-law in the 2024 elections.
