Who Is Shreya Verma? Samajwadi Party Leader Poised For Lok Sabha Seat

Shreya Verma, the vice president of the Samajwadi Party women's wing, is all set to contest the Lok Sabha seat from Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, in the upcoming elections. The 31-year-old leader is poised to continue the legacy built by her grandfather, former Rajya Sabha member Beni Prasad Verma. Several days before the list of fielded candidates was released on February 19, she already started her public outreach in Gonda with SP women's wing chief Juhie Singh.

Verma's campaign is instilling fervent anticipation, as not only does she come from a highly regarded lineage, but she also brings with her a fresh and young perspective. The zealous leader's focus is on addressing women's issues, unemployment, and education, as mentioned on her Facebook account.

Who Is Shreya Verma?

Shreya Verma completed her schooling at the prestigious Welham Girls' School in Uttarakhand's Dehradun before graduating from Ramjas College of Delhi University. Her mother Sudha Rani Verma, who runs a degree college in Barabanki, said she possessed the leadership spark from a young age and actively participated in student politics. However, this is her first time contesting in an election.

Her father Rakesh Kumar Verma is also a Samajwadi Party leader, who had been a minister in the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP government during 2012-17. Shreya, the third-generation SP leader, stepped into the political arena over two years ago and has been actively participating in party activities since. She is currently serving as the national Vice President of the SP Women's Wing. Moreover, Verma has been engaged in several social causes for education through non-profit organisations.

“She played a vital role in my campaign in the last Assembly elections,” Rakesh Kumar Verma told The Indian Express, adding that she got married to a businessman last year. Rakesh Kumar had almost seen a victory in the 2022 Assembly elections from Barabanki’s Kursi but lost to the BJP’s Sakendra Pratap by just 520 votes.

With the Lok Sabha elections on the horizon, Shreya Verma faces the responsibility of addressing the important concerns of Gonda while carrying her family's political legacy forward. The Samajwadi Party, a Socialist ensemble, emphasises mobilising underrepresented groups like Muslims, the Kurmi community, Dalits, and other minorities. Meanwhile, Verma throws a spotlight on women's issues within these communities.