Dimple Yadav to file nomination for Kannauj Lok Sabha constituency today

Samajwadi Party leader and parliamentarian Dimple Yadav will file her nomination today. She is re-contesting from the Kannauj parliamentary seat. Wife of former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, Dimple was first elected from Kannauj in 2012 in the by-polls. Polling for the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat will be held in the fourth phase on April 29.

Dimple Yadav, has emerged as a major crowd puller in election rallies all over the state. The star campaigner - has learnt how to keep the audience especially the youth involved and impress them.

Aptly donning the role of the ‘bahu’ and ‘bhabhi’, she has gone about endearingly reprimanding the young enthusiasts with warnings that she will complain about them to their ‘bhaiya’ (Akhilesh Yadav) and at the same time taking care of the elders among the electorate seeking ‘muhdekhaiye’ (gift) for her in terms of votes.

Earlier, when party workers went berserk in Allahabad, she had said, “I will tell bhaiya (Akhilesh) that you did not let me speak.  I will complain...bhaiya is coming here tomorrow.”

Addressing another election rally in Jaunpur, she won over the elders and young alike when she started her speech seeking ‘muhdikhai’—a ritual where family members give a gift to a bride when they see her face for the first time.

“...Main pehli baar poorvanchal aayee hoon...mujhe muh dikhai milegi...poora vishwas hai (I have come to Poorvanchal for the first time. I am confident I will get the gift of votes as muhdikhai),” she said striking an instant chord with the people.

In the face of dissent in the family which had left Chief Minister and party president Akhilesh Yadav almost alone to lead the campaign, he found sufficient support in his wife who took to electioneering on her own and with ease.

Lok Sabha elections will begin on April 11 and polling would be held over seven phases through May 19, followed by counting of all votes on May 23. The assembly elections in four states – Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Odisha and Arunachal Pradesh – will be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls.