Lok Sabha: Samajwadi Party names 3 women candidates, Dimple Yadav to contest from Kannauj

On the International Women’s Day, the Samajwadi Party on Friday announced the candidature of three women, including party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s wife Dimple Yadav, for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Uttar Pradesh.

Dimple Yadav will contest from Kannauj constituency, from where the 41-year-old has already been elected twice -- in 2012 by-polls and 2014 general elections.

Purvi Verma has been fielded from Khiri constituency and Usha Verma from Hardoi, according a press statement issued by the party.

Earlier in the day, the party released its first list of six candidates for the polls.

According to that list, party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav will contest from Mainpuri constituency, his nephew Dharmendra Yadav from Badaun and cousin Ram Gopal Yadav's son Akshay Yadav from Firozabad.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the party had won just 5 out of 80 seats at stake in the state.

Besides Dimple, Mulayam had won from Azamgarh, Dharmendra Yadav from Badaun, Akshay Yadav from Firozabad and Tej Pratap Yadav from Mainpuri.

The party also announced the candidates for three reserved constituencies- Itawa, Robertsganj and Bahraich.

According to the list, Kamlesh Katheria will contest the Etawah reserved seat, Bhailal Kol has been fielded on Robertsganj reserved seat, and Shabbir Balmiki from Bahraich.

The Samajwadi Party is contesting the polls in alliance with BSP. According to the seat-sharing arrangement, Samajwadi Party will contest 37 seats while BSP will contest 38.