UP CM Akhilesh confident of wife Dimple winning Kannauj by-poll

Kannauj, June 5 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who has represented the Kannauj seat thrice, on Tuesday expressed confidence that the people of this parliamentary constituency would give his wife, Dimple Yadav, victory in the by-election scheduled to be held on June 24.

Akhilesh said that it was by popular consent that the Samajwadi Party decided to field Dimple for the Lok Sabha by-election from Kannauj.

"The whole of Kannauj unanimously decided that if I vacate this seat then someone from my family must contest it. I have left the decision to the people. I anyway cannot campaign for her, as I am anyway very busy, maybe for a few days. It is for the people to decide. They have given me three opportunities to work for them and I am sure they will give her a chance," he said.

35-year-old Dimple, who filed her nomination papers today, said being the chief minister's wife it would be a golden opportunity for her to work for Kannauj.

"I think being the wife of the chief minister I have the best opportunity to work for the welfare of the people and to work for the development of my constituency," she said.

It will be Dimple's second attempt to enter the Lok Sabha. She had contested the 2009 Firozabad by-election, but lost to Congress candidate Raj Babbar.

The Kannauj parliamentary constituency fell vacant after Akhilesh Yadav resigned from the Lok Sabha on being sworn in as a member of the UP Legislative Council and after becoming the State's chief minister.

Kannauj is considered a safe seat for Dimple, as Akhilesh Yadav has represented it thrice.

Moreover, the Congress has decided not to field any candidate against Dimple in the Kannauj by-polls.

The last date for filing nominations is June 6 and the last date for withdrawal of nominations has been fixed on June 9.

The counting of votes will be held on June 27. (ANI)