Akhilesh 'Bhaiyya ji' has the upper hand, but only just
Kannauj's Bada Bazaar is a popular spot for perfume shops selling small bottles of rose, jasmine, and the unique'mitti' attar. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has returned to contest from this seat after being with the SP for two decades. Yadav won the first round by announcing his own candidature hours before the nomination deadline, strategically to prevent the BJP from replacing Pathak, who was seen as a non-performer.