"Surprise Element": BJP Fields Union Minister Versus Akhilesh Yadav

SP Singh Baghel was revealed as the BJP candidate from Karhal virtually at the last minute when he went to the election office to submit his documents.

Akhilesh Yadav's main rival in his debut Uttar Pradesh election will be Union Minister SP Singh Baghel, who was once close to the Samajwadi Party leader's father Mulayam Singh Yadav.

SP Singh Baghel, the BJP MP from Agra, is the party's candidate from Karhal in eastern Uttar Pradesh where Akhilesh Yadav is contesting his first state election.

Akhilesh Yadav, who also filed his nomination papers earlier today, declared, "Whoever is chosen as the BJP candidate from Karhal will lose."

Mr Baghel had earlier fought an election against Akhilesh Yadav's wife Dimple Yadav and lost.