Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Former BSP MP refuses to contest from Fatehpuri Sikri

Citing family reasons, former BSP MP Seema Upadhaya has declined to contest from the Fatehpur Sikri Lok Sabha constituency as the party candidate, a party leader said on Monday.

Seema Upadhaya is the wife of prominent BSP leader and former minister Ramveer Upadhaya. Fatehpur Sikri goes to poll in the second phase on April 18.

Sunil Chittor, the party’s sector incharge for western UP, said, “Seema Upadhaya will not be the Bahujan Samaj Party candidate from Fatehpur Sikri. She expressed her wish before Behanji (BSP president Mayawati) not to contest from Fatehpur Sikri due to some ‘family reasons.’’

“Seema Upadhaya had sought an opportunity to contest from Aligarh but Behanji did not agree. She is still with the BSP and will look after organisational work,” Chittor said.

Chittor said the party would finalise another candidate for the seat.

“It is all part of the political process,” said Chittor when asked if this ‘change of mind’ by the party candidate would affect the party.

Seema Upadhaya was elected from MP from Fatehpur Sikri when she defeated Congress leader Raj Babbar in the 2009 parliamentary election. This time, she had gone into campaign mode but decided to pull out just 24 hours after announcement of the Lok Sabha election schedule. Recently, Ramveer Upadhyay’s younger brother Mukul Upadhaya was expelled from the BSP. Mukul blamed his brother for the move, saying he was expelled when expressed his wish to contest from Aligarh.