Samajwadi Party’s prestige at stake in Lucknow

Ruling Samajwadi Party is facing a tough battle as it tries to retain the seven Assembly seats it had won last time out of nine in Uttar Pradesh capital, while BJP and BSP queer the pitch.

The two other seats were shared by BJP and Congress.

The SP candidates include Mulayam Singh Yadav’s daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav and three ministers, one of whom was recently sacked.

BJP has preferred to field turncoats on two seats – Lucknow Central and Lucknow Cantt. Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who had won on Congress ticket last time, has been fielded by BJP from Cantt seat against Aparna.