Veteran’s Return: SP Fields RK Chaudhary In Mohanlalganj (image-facebook/RK Chaudhary )

Samajwadi Party (SP) named former cabinet minister and ex-BSP founder RK Chaudhary as the party candidate from Mohanlalganj constituency on Monday. As per the earlier reports, the party initially decided to field state vice president CL Verma but he expressed his inability to contest elections citing family problems.

RK Chaudhary’s name was announced by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. The veteran leader joined SP in 2019. His nomination by the party is considered to be a masterstroke aimed at consolidating the party’s base and tapping into the broader social dynamics. He is a close associate of Kanshi Ram, the founder of the BSP.

Chaudhary’s victory from Mohanlalganj assembly seat in 1996, 2002, and 2007 coupled with his tenure as a cabinet minister is expected to help him thrive in the upcoming election. Apart from being a close associate of Kanshi Ram, he was also appointed as the BSP’s first state coordinator. It is said that in 2019, the SP leader had some rift with BSP chief Mayavati after which he left BSP and joined Congress.

Chaudhary served as the transport minister in the SP-BSP coalition government headed by Mulayam. RK Chaudhary is popular for his Ambedkarite and socialist ideas.

The Mohanlalganj seat from Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh is a reserved seat Scheduled Caste. At present the seat is occupied by the BJP. For the past two elections, BJP candidate Kaushal Kishore has been winning from the Mohanlalganj for the past two elections.

Samajwadi Party on Monday released the second list of 11 candidates for Lok Sabha polls.