The Samajwadi Party on Friday released its first list of 142 candidates for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, which will be held next year. According to The Indian Express, the ruling party had lost 140 of these seats during the 2012 elections, and later gave up the last two as well during bypolls. The party has replaced 85 of its candidates from 2012.

SP spokesman Shivpal Yadav said the candidates for the remaining 26 seats that the party had lost in 2012 will be declared after party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav approves the list. The list contains a mix candidates from various communities, including 28 Muslims, 18 Yadavs, 15 Thakurs, and several others from scheduled castes, backward communities and minorities in the state. SP leaders believe at least five members of Mulayam Singh Yadav's family are expected to get party tickets, including his son and current Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.