On last day of nomination, SP changes Meerut face for 2nd time, fields former Mayor

Pradhan was himself a replacement for Bhanu Pratap Singh, the name the SP had announced for the seat on Tuesday. He was dropped by the party citing Pradhan’s connection to people in the seat. Pradhan also has the reputation of a “giant killer”, having defeated firebrand BJP leader Sangeet Som by a margin of over 18,000 votes. in the 2022 Assembly elections.

On Thursday, SP leaders claimed confidence that Verma would give the BJP candidate a “stiff competition”, having built a base in Meerut city serving as its Mayor.

Verma and her husband Yogesh Verma were incidentally both with the BSP earlier. They were expelled in 2019 over “anti-party activities” and joined the SP.

Asked about the party dropping him, Pradhan told The Indian Express: “The senior leadership of the party thought of something and gave someone else the ticket. National president (Akhilesh Yadav) called me this morning. After a long discussion, it was decided that I would not contest. The party must feel there is someone better to manage the equations in the seat. I accept their decision.”

Asked whether he would campaign for Verma, Pradhan said it was “difficult” for his supporters to do so. He added, “But there is no protest. I accept the decision of the party and would continue to do my work as an MLA. I will campaign wherever the party asks me to.”

Though officially Pradhan seemed to take being dropped as a candidate with equanimity, unlike what happened in the Moradabad and Rampur seats when the SP made changes, party insiders admitted apprehension regarding the reaction of the supporters of Pradhan.

“Anyone can be chosen as a candidate. However, to declare a candidate, allow him to file nomination papers and then replace him the very next day leaves supporters disappointed,” a senior SP leader said.

The BJP has been winning the Meerut Lok Sabha since 2009. In 2019, when the SP had left the seat for its then ally BSP, the latter’s Haji Yakub Qureshi had given a close fight to the BJP’s Rajendra Agarwal, who won by a narrow margin of 5,000 votes. This time, the BJP has fielded actor Arun Govil, of Ramayan fame.