Lucknow: Ahead of Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav's visit to Moradabad, party leader and sitting MP ST Hasan stated that he would accompany the party chief out of compulsion but would refrain from campaigning for the party's candidate, Ruchi Vira. Hasan expressed concerns that campaigning might provoke opposition from the people, who are currently discontented.

"I learned about this through media reports and newspapers. If Akhilesh Yadav calls me or visits my home, I'll accompany him out of compulsion as my etiquette dictates. I'll go out of respect for Akhilesh Yadav but will not campaign (for SP candidate, Ruchi Vira). People are upset, and if I campaign, they'll oppose me," Hasan told the media on Saturday. Akhilesh Yadav is scheduled to address an election rally in Moradabad in support of party candidate Ruchi Veera on Sunday.

"National President of Samajwadi Party and former Chief Minister Shri Akhilesh Yadav will address an election rally at Government Inter College Police Station Mughalpura Moradabad on Sunday, April 14 at 12:25 pm in support of Samajwadi Party INDIA Alliance candidate Ruchi Veera (Lok Sabha, 06-Moradabad) in Moradabad Lok Sabha constituency," the official X handle of SP posted on Saturday.

There was suspense over the Moradabad seat as sitting MP ST Hasan filed his nomination on March 26, but there were speculations that the Samajwadi Party would go with Ruchi Vira. Later, Ruchi Vira filed her nomination from the Moradabad constituency for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on March 27, and Hasan withdrew his nomination the same evening. After filing her nomination, Ruchi Vira said that anyone having doubts should speak to the returning officer regarding the rules.

The BJP has fielded Kumar Sarvesh Singh against Ruchi Vira from the Moradabad constituency. In the 2019 general elections, SP's ST Hasan won the Moradabad seat, gathering 50 per cent of votes. He defeated the BJP's Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar, who gathered 551,538 votes. Congress' Imran Pratapgarhi came in third.

Uttar Pradesh, which sends the maximum number of MPs, 80, to Parliament, will vote in all seven phases. Earlier in the 2019 elections, defying expectations, the BJP and its ally Apna Dal(S) won 64 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats. The alliance partners, Akhilesh Yadav's party and Mayawati Party's, won 15 seats. Voting for phases one and two will be held on April 19 and April 26. Next, the state will once again poll in phases three and four on May 7 and May 13.

The voting for the Moradabad Lok Sabha seat will be held in the first phase on April 19.

PM Narendra Modi Pays Tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar on Birth Anniversary

Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy Injured in Stone Pelting Incident During Roadshow in Vijayawada

Key Promises in BJP's Election Manifesto: Focus on Development, Women's Welfare, and "Viksit Bharat"