SP's Bareilly City candidate rebels, wants seat changed

Bareilly: Sher Ali Jafri, the Samajwadi Party candidate from Bareilly city constituency, has refused to contest the election from that seat. The SP candidate said that he wanted to contest from the Bhojipura constituency instead.

Jafri claimed that residents of Bhojipura were annoyed with the current MLA Shahjil Islam and the constituency needed a change.

The SP candidate gave his refusal to contest from Bareilly city to the District Magistrate Virpal Singh within the 72 hours of being allotted the seat. Jafri said that this would be his last election, which he did not want to lose. "I have been preparing to contest from Bhojipura for a very long time. The equation in Bareilly City does not suit me," he said.

Jafri said he wanted to help the people of Bhojipura as they were annoyed with the present legislator for neglecting their problems.

What Legislator Shahjil Islam says:

On the other hand, Shahjil Islam said that Bhojipura voters had always shown their affection for him and he was sure of his win in 2017 polls. "If Sher Ali Jafri wants to contest the Assembly elections from Bhojipura, he is welcome," said Islam and added, "people here have so far supported me and I am sure of winning the next Assembly polls."

There have been speculations about Jafri contesting on BSP ticket but he chose to stay silent on the matter.