Lok Sabha polls: SP replaces Meerut candidate second time, fields former mayor

Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party on Thursday changed its candidate for a second time in Meerut, replacing Atul Pradhan with former mayor Sunita Verma Pradhan.

April 4 was the last date for filing nomination in Meerut, which will got to poll in the second phase of Lok Sabha election in the state.

Pradhan, who had filed his nomination on Wednesday, said he accepts the decision of party national president Akhilesh Yadav, who he met in the morning.

In his post on X, Pradhan, who is SP MLA from Sardhana seat said, "Whatever decision National President Akhilesh Yadav ji has taken, I accept it. Soon I will sit with supporters and discuss."

Advocate Bhanu Pratap Singh was replaced by Atul Pradhan.

Confusion also prevailed in Rampur and Moradabad seats, where two candidates filed their nomination claiming themselves to be the SP candidate.

In Rampur, Asim Raza and Mohibulla Nadvi had filed their nomination. Later, Raza's nomination was rejected.

In Moradabad, sitting MP ST Hasan, who had earlier filed his nomination, was replaced by Ruchi Veera.

In Budaun too, party workers have written to the party president to give a ticket to Aditya Yadav instead of his father Shivpal Yadav, who is party candidate for the seat.

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) President Jayant Chaudhury in a post on X took a dig at his former ally.

"Only the lucky ones in the opposition get the ticket of a Lok Sabha candidate for a few hours! Its' luck of those whose tickets were denied (later with another candidate)," he wrote.

Voting will be held in Meerut on April 26 in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections. The last date for filing nominations for the phase was April 4.