The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Union minister S.P. Singh Baghel to take on Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav from the Karhal assembly constituency, which falls under Mainpuri district, considered a stronghold of SP.
Baghel was once seen close to Mulayam Singh Yadav, but he shifted loyalties to BSP before joining the BJP. Karhal will go to the polls on February 20, where Akhilesh Yadav will be contesting his first assembly election.
Amid the poll campaign, The Wire‘s Yaqut Ali caught up with Baghel for an interview, where he discusses a number of issues pertaining to ensuing elections.