In a jolt to the Samajwadi Party ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the party’s PDA convention in Kannauj turned into a major disappointment after very few people turned out for the much-touted event. Kannauj is a stronghold of the SP since 1998, famously represented by leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, and Dimple Yadav.
The event held on Saturday saw the participation of very few supporters despite the participation of state president Shyam Lal Pal. Following this, allegations surfaced that all is not well within the party leadership in the district, forcing the disgruntled party state president to dissolve the entire district executive. The leaders were also summoned to Lucknow to meet with the SP top leadership.
The constituency faces internal strife triggered by ticket claims, factionalism, and a struggle for supremacy among leaders, ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, according to reports.
The Kannauj Sadar seat is the most contested. In 2022, BJP's Asim Arun defeated the then SP MLA Anil Dohre. A three-time MLA, Dohre passed away last year. His political legacy is now being carried forward by his son, Yash Dohre. However, a section of party workers challenge his qualification and recognition at the grassroots level and within the organisation. Veteran SP leader Kalyan Singh has staked a claim for this seat, dividing the party into several factions.
The Tirwa seat also witnesses a faction feud over ticket claims. Following the death of former MLA Vijay Bahadur Pal, his son Anil Pal received the 2022 ticket, but he lost. Now, there are talks of other leaders, including Hukum Singh Yadav and Kukku Chauhan, considered close to Akhilesh Yadav, who want to contest. The presence of multiple claimants has caused friction here.
The case is no different in Chhibramau assembly constituency too. The party nominated Arvind Yadav in the last election, while Muslim leader Tahir Hussain Siddiqui also held out for a ticket. Denying him a ticket in 2022 had triggered a factional feud, which has reared its head again.
This is besides the complaints about the working style of certain leaders, like Vijay Tiwari and Haseeb Hasan. The party workers feel their issues and complaints are not reaching the top leadership, and the decisions taken by the district leadership could harm the party's overall organisation.
