Kanpur by-poll to see fight for retaining family bastion

The Legislative Council by-election to Kanpur division graduates’ constituency will be a fight for retaining family legacy amid a triangular contest.

The constituency has been the bastion of the Swaroop family for nearly six decades. For the last 34 years, Jagendra Swaroop had been the MLC from the constituency and previously, his father Virendra had retained the seat for nearly 24 years.

The by-poll was necessitated following Jagendra’s death.

Cong-BJP face-off
Jagendra’s eldest son Manvendra Swaroop, who has support from Congress, is in the fray besides 14 other candidates so far.

The main contest is between him and Bramhanand College’s principal Vivek Dwivedi and Arun Pathak, supported by BJP.

The elections are slated for January 19 and around 2,25,000 electorate will exercise their franchise.

Swaroop family runs 24 educational institutions, including school, inter-college and degree colleges.

The teachers of these institutions are a crucial factor for their victory.
Manvendra said, “My family has always worked in the field of education and due to this, they have been winning from the constituency since last 58 years.”

Support from lawyers
Meanwhile, Dwivedi is being supported by a group of 500 lawyers led by senior advocate Rewant Mishra.

Dwivedi said he has met over 2,000 teachers and has claimed the support of youth and lawyers.

Pathak, the third main candidate in the fray, is being campaigned by BJP city unit chief Surendra Mathani.

He claimed that just the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi eradicated dynasty rule in the Lok Sabha elections, same will be witnessed here.
PTI