Bareilly Lok Sabha constituency: SP’s Praveen Singh Aron to take on BJP’s Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar

Congress last won the Lok Sabha elections in Bareilly in 2009, before BJP reestablished their dominance by winning back-to-back Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019 by a margin of 2,40,685 and 1,67,282 votes, respectively. However, in a shocking move, BJP has dropped their sitting MP, Santosh Gangwar, and has opted to go with the former MLA from Baheri, Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar, while SP has decided to back the 2009 Lok Sabha winner from this seat, Praveen Singh Aron (As a Congress candidate) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar (BJP)

Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar, BJP (Source: X/@CPSGangwarBJP)

BJP has dropped a number of sitting MPs in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, followed the trend in Bareilly and decided to field the former MLA of Baheri, Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar, over the two-time sitting MP Santosh Gangwar. BJP’s decision to change the Lok Sabha candidate can be a move to negate the anti-incumbency notion among the citizens. Chhatrapal Singh held the post of MLA from 2017 to 2022 and has also served as minister of state for the revenue of Uttar Pradesh during his five-year tenure.

Praveen Singh Aron (SP)

Praveen Singh Gangwar, SP (In centre) (Source: X/@praveen_aron)

Samajwadi secured the Bareilly Lok Sabha seat as a part of the I.N.D.I.A. alliance deal with the Congress and decided to field former Congress member and winning candidate from the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Praveen Singh Aron, in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Notably, Aron also contested the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Bareilly, securing fourth and third positions, respectively, as a Congress candidate before switching to Samajwadi Party in 2022.