BJP MP Rita Bahuguna Joshi has been publicly lobbying for a ticket for the coming Uttar Pradesh assembly polls for her son Mayank Joshi for weeks now.
Earlier this month, Rita Joshi told The Times of India she had sent a proposal to BJP chief J.P. Nadda that she was ready to step down as MP for Prayagraj if Mayank was given the BJP ticket for Lucknow Cantonment seat.
She cited the need to step down due to the BJP practice of only one person from a family contesting an election.
On Sunday morning, News 18 reported that Mayank Joshi could join the Samajwadi Party to contest from Lucknow Cantonment.
Quoting sources, News 18 reported, “BJP is all set to deny a ticket to Mayank from Lucknow Cant., and that Mayank is likely to be fielded as a SP candidate from the same seat.” News 18 claimed the SP was waiting for the BJP to declare candidates for the 9 assembly seats in the Lucknow region before announcing its list.
There has been speculation the BJP could nominate Aparna Bisht Yadav, the younger daughter-in-law of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, to contest from Lucknow Cantonment. Aparna had joined the BJP earlier this month.
Incumbent MLA for Lucknow Cantonment Suresh Chandra Tiwari is also optimistic about his chances to get the nomination. Tiwari had told News 18 last week he felt neither Mayank Joshi or Aparna Yadav would be given the ticket.
Rita Joshi had cited her son's work in Lucknow Cantonment. “Mayank has been doing a lot of ground work in the assembly segment and is quite popular among all sections of the society, especially among the youth. The seat is so dear to me as well,” Rita had told The Times of India recently.
also read
- BJP candidate from Moradabad seat Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar dies
- Lok Sabha polls: Intense fight as all key players have tasted success in these 8 seats in UP
- Gorakhpur MP Ravi Kishan's wife files complaint against woman who claims to be his spouse
- Insects found in flour used to cook mid-day meal UP school
Rita Joshi, the daughter of former UP CM H.N. Bahuguna, began her political career with the Samajwadi Party, but joined the Congress in 1992. She had lost from Lucknow Cantonment while with the Congress. She joined the BJP in 2016. She won from Lucknow Cantonment in 2017, defeating Aparna Yadav, who was fighting on an SP ticket then. Rita served as a minister in the Yogi Adityanath government, but resigned after winning the Lok Sabha election from Prayagraj in 2019.
