New Delhi: In the Karhal assembly bypoll in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Tej Pratap Yadav has taken an early lead following the voting held on November 20. This by-election is shaping up to be a crucial battle between the Samajwadi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with Tej Pratap Yadav, the nephew of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, going head-to-head against the BJP’s Anujesh Pratap Singh.

Anujesh Pratap Singh, a former member of the Samajwadi Party who joined the BJP in 2017, is leveraging his political shift to gain an advantage. Married to Sandhya Yadav, the sister of Dharmendra Yadav, the Samajwadi Party MP from Azamgarh, Singh is hoping to appeal to the traditional Yadav voter base. By aligning with the BJP, he aims to broaden his appeal across various voter segments and capitalize on his connections within the Yadav community.

Tej Pratap Yadav, a prominent figure in the Samajwadi Party, is contesting from a constituency that lies just four kilometers from the ancestral village of Akhilesh Yadav, Saifai, in Etawah district. This seat is part of his wife Dimple Yadav’s Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency, which has long been a stronghold for the Samajwadi Party, with the exception of a brief BJP win in 2002. Tej Pratap’s bid is seen as an attempt to maintain the party’s strong presence in the region, which has historically been aligned with the Samajwadi Party.

The bypoll was necessitated after Akhilesh Yadav vacated the Karhal assembly seat following his successful election to the Lok Sabha from Kannauj. As the results continue to unfold, the Karhal bypoll is being closely watched, not only for its local significance but also as a key indicator of voter sentiment in Uttar Pradesh ahead of future elections. The outcome is expected to shape the political dynamics between the SP and BJP in the state, with both parties vying for dominance in this strategically important region.