Lucknow/Gorakhpur: CM Yogi Adityanath will face his first assembly election as a contestant GorakhpurThe Gorakhnath Math is known for having its head priest as its head when 57 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh go to polls in the sixth and final phase on Thursday.
In Kushinagar, another holy place where the Buddha gave his last sermon, Yogi’s former BJP Colleague and minister Swami Prasad Maurya is contesting on Samajwadi Party ticket. Maurya has also changed his party and his constituency in Kushinagar while going from Padrauna to Fazilnagar.
Ambedkar Nagar is also the stronghold of BSP in this era, which is known as the caste laboratory of its founder Kanshi Ram. The political equations here have changed a lot after four prominent leaders of BSP joined the SP before the elections.
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However, caste remains on the ballot, as pockets of most backward castes (MBCs), such as Nishads and Rajbhars, are spread across the region. In this phase, the allies of both the sides will be tested – SBSP in the SP camp and Nishad Party with BJP. SBSP President OP Rajbhar has to ensure the victory of nine candidates of his party in this round and also show his ability to transfer the votes of his supporters to the SP.
In Gorakhpur, Maharajganj and Deoria districts, Nishad or fishermen voters are going to play a key role in the close contest. Nestled along the banks of major rivers in eastern UP, they have a significant share of the votes.
In 2017, the BJP and its allies had won 48 out of 57 seats. In 2012, SP got 32 seats and BJP got nine seats. BSP seats fell from eight in 2012 to five in 2017. In 2017 the Congress could win only one.
Yogi has been campaigning vigorously with road shows and public meetings in Gorakhpur and neighboring districts last week in an attempt to repeat the BJP’s performance from five years ago. Eight of the nine seats in Gorakhpur went to the BJP in 2017.
In Gorakhpur Sadar, SP has fielded Shubhavati Shukla, widow of former UP BJP vice-president. Upendra Dutt Shukla, In 2018, after vacating the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat after Yogi became CM, Upendra Shukla Contested by-election, but lost.
Seven of Yogi’s ministers are seeking re-election this round: Surya Pratap Sahi (Pathardeva, Deoria), Jai Pratap Singh (Bansi, Siddharth Nagar), Satish Chandra Dwivedi (Itwa, Siddharthnagar), Sriram Chauhan (Dhanghata, Sant Kabir Nagar), Jai Prakash Nishad (Rudrapur, Deoria), Anand Swarup Shukla (Bairia, Ballia) and Upendra Tiwari (Phephana, Ballia).
Eight-time SP MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ram Govind Choudhary is contesting from his traditional Bansdih seat of Ballia. Two-time SP MLA Ashutosh, son of deceased minister Kameshwar Upadhyay, will try to retain Bhatpar Rani after defending his seat during the Modi wave in 2017.
For the Congress, its UP unit president Ajay Kumar Lallu is eyeing a third consecutive victory from Tamkuhi Raj.
In Ambedkarnagar and Basti, the effect of changed loyalty can test the results. Veteran Kurmi leader Lalji Verma expelled by BSP chief Mayawati for anti-party activities is the SP candidate from Katehari in Ambedkarnagar.
In Kushinagar, another holy place where the Buddha gave his last sermon, Yogi’s former BJP Colleague and minister Swami Prasad Maurya is contesting on Samajwadi Party ticket. Maurya has also changed his party and his constituency in Kushinagar while going from Padrauna to Fazilnagar.
Ambedkar Nagar is also the stronghold of BSP in this era, which is known as the caste laboratory of its founder Kanshi Ram. The political equations here have changed a lot after four prominent leaders of BSP joined the SP before the elections.
wide coverage
However, caste remains on the ballot, as pockets of most backward castes (MBCs), such as Nishads and Rajbhars, are spread across the region. In this phase, the allies of both the sides will be tested – SBSP in the SP camp and Nishad Party with BJP. SBSP President OP Rajbhar has to ensure the victory of nine candidates of his party in this round and also show his ability to transfer the votes of his supporters to the SP.
In Gorakhpur, Maharajganj and Deoria districts, Nishad or fishermen voters are going to play a key role in the close contest. Nestled along the banks of major rivers in eastern UP, they have a significant share of the votes.
In 2017, the BJP and its allies had won 48 out of 57 seats. In 2012, SP got 32 seats and BJP got nine seats. BSP seats fell from eight in 2012 to five in 2017. In 2017 the Congress could win only one.
Yogi has been campaigning vigorously with road shows and public meetings in Gorakhpur and neighboring districts last week in an attempt to repeat the BJP’s performance from five years ago. Eight of the nine seats in Gorakhpur went to the BJP in 2017.
In Gorakhpur Sadar, SP has fielded Shubhavati Shukla, widow of former UP BJP vice-president. Upendra Dutt Shukla, In 2018, after vacating the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat after Yogi became CM, Upendra Shukla Contested by-election, but lost.
Seven of Yogi’s ministers are seeking re-election this round: Surya Pratap Sahi (Pathardeva, Deoria), Jai Pratap Singh (Bansi, Siddharth Nagar), Satish Chandra Dwivedi (Itwa, Siddharthnagar), Sriram Chauhan (Dhanghata, Sant Kabir Nagar), Jai Prakash Nishad (Rudrapur, Deoria), Anand Swarup Shukla (Bairia, Ballia) and Upendra Tiwari (Phephana, Ballia).
Eight-time SP MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ram Govind Choudhary is contesting from his traditional Bansdih seat of Ballia. Two-time SP MLA Ashutosh, son of deceased minister Kameshwar Upadhyay, will try to retain Bhatpar Rani after defending his seat during the Modi wave in 2017.
For the Congress, its UP unit president Ajay Kumar Lallu is eyeing a third consecutive victory from Tamkuhi Raj.
In Ambedkarnagar and Basti, the effect of changed loyalty can test the results. Veteran Kurmi leader Lalji Verma expelled by BSP chief Mayawati for anti-party activities is the SP candidate from Katehari in Ambedkarnagar.