The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has accelerated its candidate selection process in Agra district ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. After announcing Neeraj Rawat as its candidate for the Kheragarh seat, the party is preparing to announce its nominee for Etmadpur. It is also planning to declare candidates for four Assembly seats in the district by November.
The BSP announced Neeraj Rawat as its candidate for the Kheragarh Assembly seat on September 16. The party is now working to finalise its nominee for Etmadpur, where Sarvesh Baghel has emerged as a prominent contender.
The party intends to announce the candidate at a public meeting and has called for its national coordinator, Akash Anand, to attend the event. Local party functionaries expect his presence to increase youth participation and accelerate the election campaign.
According to BSP chief divisional in-charge Vimal Verma, a decision on the Etmadpur seat could be taken soon. However, the party has yet to officially announce its candidate.
After Etmadpur, the BSP is preparing to announce candidates for the Fatehabad and Fatehpur Sikri Assembly seats.
In Fatehabad, discussions had initially focused on fielding a candidate from the Thakur community. However, following the death of BJP MLA Chhotelal Verma, a contender from the Nishad community is now reportedly being given priority.
For the Fatehpur Sikri seat, the party has prepared a list of potential candidates from the Thakur and Brahmin communities. Its strategy also focuses on bringing Dalit, upper-caste and backward-class voters into its electoral coalition.
The party has also reportedly prepared lists of potential contenders for the Agra North, Agra South, Agra Rural, Agra Cantonment and Bah Assembly seats. These constituencies are said to have between four and 10 potential candidates each.
The BSP's previous electoral performance in Agra has presented a challenge for the party. In the 2007 and 2012 Assembly elections, it won six of the district's nine seats. In 2009, Seema Upadhyay won the Fatehpur Sikri Lok Sabha seat on a BSP ticket.
However, the party failed to win any Assembly seat in the district in the 2017 and 2022 elections. It is now seeking to activate its organisation ahead of the 2027 polls by announcing candidates in advance.
The party plans to declare candidates for four Assembly seats in Agra district by November. Candidate selection is being guided by local electoral equations, the participation of social groups and organisational strength. Final decisions on Etmadpur and the other constituencies will become clear following official announcements by the party.
