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Tej Pratap Yadav is the Samajwadi Party candidate for Karhal, which will see polling on November 13. The BJP has fielded Anujesh Yadav, brother-in-law of SP MP Dharmendra Yadav
The Karhal bypoll was necessitated after Akhilesh Yadav vacated the seat on winning the April-June Lok Sabha election from Kannauj. (Representational image/PTI)
“It is not the fight within the family, it’s a fight between two different ideologies. It’s a fight between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and whosoever the candidate is, the BJP is going to face a big defeat on the Karhal assembly seat,” stated Tej Pratap Yadav, SP candidate for the bypoll-bound Karhal seat, which will see polling on November 13. Meanwhile, Anujesh Yadav, brother-in-law of SP MP Dharmendra Yadav whom the BJP has fielded from Karhal, responded sharply to senior Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav’s recent remarks in which he stated that Anujesh would need to return his Bharatiya Janata Party ticket if he wished to rejoin the Yadav family. Countering this, Anujesh issued an invitation to “Shivpal chacha” to join the BJP himself.
“Our bond with the people of Karhal and Mainpuri is not new. They all knew Netaji (late SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav) even before he entered politics. I am sure that the people of Karhal will elect me to power with a bigger victory margin,” stated Tej Pratap Yadav, a former Mainpuri MP.
He also slammed the BJP for its “anti-people policies” and said the public is fed up with the party and has made up its mind to choose the SP instead, no matter the candidate. The Karhal bypoll was necessitated after Akhilesh Yadav vacated the seat on winning the April-June Lok Sabha election from Kannauj.
The BJP’s decision to field a Yadav family member in Anujesh against the Samajwadi Party’s Tej Pratap initially fuelled speculation about a potential family divide, particularly regarding Dharmendra Yadav, Anujesh’s brother-in-law and an SP MP. However, putting all speculation to rest, the entire Yadav family, including Dharmendra, gathered in Karhal to campaign in full support of SP candidate Tej Pratap Yadav.
‘Relationship with Anujesh over’
Shivpal Singh Yadav while campaigning for Tej Pratap, criticised the BJP’s decision to field Anujesh. At an election meeting in the Ghiror block of Mainpuri district, Shivpal dismissed any connection with Anujesh, declaring their relationship “over” and insisted that the latter must return his BJP ticket if he hopes to rejoin the SP.
Shivpal also attacked the ruling BJP’s record, asserting that it had failed to deliver on promises to reduce poverty and create stable jobs, with many families now struggling as job opportunities are increasingly offered on a contract basis.
‘Shivpal should join BJP’
Anujesh responded by questioning Shivpal’s return to the Samajwadi Party (SP) despite “insults” from his nephew, Akhilesh Yadav. “Akhilesh Yadav insulted his chacha (uncle) and said he would never take him back. Then why did he (Shivpal) rejoin the Samajwadi Party?” Anujesh asked, urging Shivpal to join the Bharatiya Janata Party instead.
He also accused the Samajwadi Party of sidelining him and his family. “Shivpal chacha was the first one to part ways with the party, but now he’s aligned with the SP because they’ve given his son a ticket from Badaun,” he said. Anujesh also claimed that part of his reason for joining the BJP stemmed from feeling “backstabbed” by the SP and alleged disrespect toward his wife, who he emphasised is a member of the Yadav family. “They never gave my wife the respect she deserved,” he stated.
Despite the Yadav family uniting behind Tej Pratap, Anujesh expressed confidence in his BJP support, saying, “I am grateful to have senior BJP leaders, including PM Narendra Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath, who have entrusted their faith in me and extended full support.”
‘Family favouritism’
Anujesh also accused the SP of “parivarvaad” (family favouritism) and criticised its candidate selection strategy. “They could have chosen any other Yadav for 2024, but instead, they distributed seats among five Yadav family members,” he said. “I, too, come from a family involved in politics since 1952, and I am sure the people of Karhal will extend full support and elect me to power.”
Initially, on October 25, Akhilesh Yadav addressed a gathering in Mainpuri, criticising the BJP for becoming “rishtedaar-wadi” (relative-oriented) despite accusing the SP of dynastic politics.
Anujesh Yadav switched to the BJP along with his wife Sandhya Yadav in 2021. Sandhya is Akhilesh Yadav’s cousin and Dharmendra Yadav’s twin sister.