Politics of UP: In the political battle, even the Bahubali’s are tested…
Many Bahubali are in the field in the political battle of the state. Although the major parties have shown indifference and in many places they have entered the fray from new and smaller parties.
The discussion on the Bahubali’s of Purvanchal is not complete without veteran Harishankar Tiwari. Harishankar Tiwari, who came out as a domineering face in the 80s, was an MLA for 22 years. He was also a minister several times. After losing the 2007 and 2012 elections, he himself is away from politics, but his son Vinay Shankar Tiwari is maintaining his legacy. Vinay Shankar, who became MLA from BSP in 2017, is now in the fray from Chillupar seat on SP ticket. This seat has been occupied by Brahmins for almost 37 years. Here after Brahmins, Dalits and Nishad’s play a decisive role. Here BJP has fielded Rajesh Tripathi and BSP has fielded Rajendra Singh alias Pehalwan Singh.
In place of Mukhtar in Mau, Abbas Ansar is not contesting from the Mau seat since 1996. He is in Banda Jail. Two candidates are in the fray from the new generation of the Ansari family, his son Abbas Ansari is in the fray on the ticket of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, which is in alliance with the SP. In this Muslim-dominated seat, the alliance of Scheduled Castes with Muslims is a decisive factor. Here BSP’s state president Bhim Rajbhar and BJP’s Ashok Kumar Singh are in the fray. Similarly, Abbas’s cousin Mannu Ansari is in the fray from Mohammadabad seat on SP ticket.
In Ayodhya, there is a direct battle between two musclemen. In the sensitive Gosainganj assembly seat, former SP MLA Abhay Singh and former BJP MLA Indra Pratap Tiwari alias Khabbu Tiwari’s wife Aarti Tiwari are in the fray. Khabbu Tiwari is in jail after being sentenced in the fake marksheet case.
The former MP Umakant Yadav and former MP Ramakant Yadav remain in the headlines as the Bahubali’s of Azamgarh and Jaunpur. This time former MP Umakant Yadav is away from the electoral fray. But former Azamgarh MP Ramakant Yadav is contesting from Phulpur Powai on SP ticket. His son Arunkant Yadav is a BJP MLA from this seat. BJP has fielded Ramsurat and BSP has fielded Shakeel Ahmed in this Yadav and Muslim-dominated seat.
All eyes on Bhadohis battle this time. Nishad Party did not give ticket to Gyanpur MLA Vijay Mishra, one of Bhadohi’s strong faces. He is in the fray from Pragatisheel Manav Samaj Party. Nishad Party has fielded Vipul Dubey, SP has fielded Ram Kishore Bind and BSP has fielded Upendra Kumar Singh. Vijay Mishra is contesting from the jail itself.
In Purvanchal, Mukhtar Ansaris arch rival Brijesh Singh is in jail. He is an MLC. He himself is not contesting, but his nephew Sushil Singh is in the fray from Sayedaraja seat in Chandauli district. Sushil became MLA for the first time from Dhanapur in Chandauli. It is followed by BJP MLA from Sayedaraja. Now in the field for the fourth time. BSP has fielded Amit Kumar Yadav and SP has fielded Manoj Kumar in Sayedaraja seat.
JDU’s support to Dhananjay Singh, Jaunpur district earlier used to have Rari assembly seat. Dhananjay Singh, who started his political journey from this seat, was MLA twice and MP once. There are many lawsuits against them. Dhananjay’s wife is the district panchayat president. The Malhni assembly seat formed in the new delimitation is Yadav dominated. The Nishad’s play a crucial role along with the Kshatriya’s, Brahmin’s. In the year 2017, Dhananjay Singh contested from Nishad Party, but was defeated by Parasnath Yadav of SP. This time SP has fielded MLA Lucky Yadav, while Dhananjay is in the fray on Janata Dal (U) ticket. Here BJP has bet on former MP KP Singh and BSP on Shailendra Yadav.
There is a threat of Bhadri royalty in politics. Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Rajbhaiya reached the assembly from Kunda in 1993 as an independent candidate. Since then he has been winning this seat continuously. He was a minister in the governments of Kalyan Singh and Mulayam Singh. He was also a cabinet minister in Akhilesh Yadav’s government. However, now his ways are parted from the SP. They have formed Janata Dal-democratic. For the first time, Raghuraj Pratap Singh is in the fray from his own party instead of an independent. For the siege of Raja Bhaiya, SP has fielded his own disciple Gulshan Yadav. BJP nominated Sindhuja Mishra and BSP Mohd.
These were also in the headlines: BSP has fielded Aman Mani Tripathi from Nautanwan of Maharajganj assembly. Amarmanis son Amanmani Tripathi, who came into the limelight after the Madhumita Shukla murder case, is also accused of killing his wife Sara. From here Kunwar Kaushal Singh of SP and Rishi of Nishad Party are in the fray.
