UP candidate dons garland of 7 slippers while campaigning; Here's why

During every election cycle, a variety of party symbols emerge, ranging from the mundane to the eccentric. The upcoming Lok Sabha elections of 2024 are no exception to this trend.

Pandit Keshav Dev, an independent candidate from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, decided to leverage the symbol allotted to him by the Election Commission - a pair of slippers. With a creative approach to garnering attention, Dev adorned himself with a garland of seven slippers during his campaign activities.

The Lok Sabha polls are scheduled to be conducted in seven phases, commencing on April 19. Uttar Pradesh, known for sending the largest contingent of MPs to Parliament with 80 seats, will participate in all seven phases of voting.


The voting for the first two phases is set for April 19 and April 26, followed by subsequent phases on May 7, May 13, May 20, May 23, and June 1. Aligarh, specifically, will cast its votes during the second phase on April 26, with the counting of votes slated for June 4.

In the previous Lok Sabha elections held in 2019, BJP candidate Satish Kumar Gautam emerged victorious from Aligarh, securing 656,215 votes. The BJP triumphed over BSP candidate Dr. Ajeet Baliyan, who received 426,954 votes.

Reflecting on the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP clinched a significant victory, capturing 71 seats with a vote share of 42.6 percent. Meanwhile, the Congress party managed to secure only two seats, with a vote share of 7.5 percent.