UP by-pollls: Congress removes Suresh Yadav as Prayagraj unit chief for contesting Phulpur as Independent

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 26 (ANI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress has removed Suresh Chandra Yadav as its Prayagraj (Gangapar) unit chief for filing nomination against the INDIA bloc candidate in the Phulpur assembly by-elections in the state against the decision of the party leadership.

In a letter issued to the Yadav on October 25, the state Congress Committee president Ajay Rai said, "On your filing nomination papers against the INDIA alliance candidate in the Phulpur assembly by-election against the decision of the party leadership, you are relieved from the post of the president of District Congress Committee Prayagraj (Gangapar) with immediate effect.
The INDIA bloc has fielded Mujtaba Siddiqui as its candidate for the Phulpur assembly bypoll.
Meanwhile, former chief minister and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said the Bharatiya Janata Party will face a "historic" defeat in the Uttar Pradesh by-polls.

"Samajwadi Party and Congress are in the opposition. We cannot give any benefit to anyone. It is part of our strategy that we are fighting together... to strengthen the INDIA bloc. Not only in bypolls, but we will also defeat them (BJP) in 2027 (UP assembly polls) as well. There will be a historic result in favour of the Samajwadi Party. BJP will face a historic defeat," Yadav told reporters in Mainpuri.
The poll body has announced by-polls for nine of the 10 vacant assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh on November 13, except Milkipur of Ayodhya district.
The nine assembly seats where bypolls are being held include Meerapur, Kundarki, Khair, Karhal, Phulpur, and Katehari. The counting of votes is scheduled for November 23.
The by-polls on 48 constituencies are spread over 15 states - Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. (ANI)