Uttar Pradesh is among the most prominent of five states going to polls early next year. Election dates aren’t announced yet but the political parties have already set in motion their election machinery, in a bid to woo the electorate. In Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath is seeking a return to power while Akhilesh-led Samajwadi Party (SP) is going full throttle in its attempt to dislodge the incumbent BJP government.
BJP galvanising its cadre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s repeated visits to Eastern Uttar Pradesh, in particular, is the major highlight of party’s campaign in the poll-bound state. BJP knows very well that “road to Delhi in 2024 will depend on its victory in 2022 polls in UP” and the same has been underlined by none other than Home Minister Amit Shah.
Why carpet-bombing in Eastern UP?
Purvanchal is the key to who wins the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, slated for February-March next year. In 2017, when BJP stormed to power with thumping majority, this region contributed the most to its seats tally. Out of 165 seats in 28 districts of the region, the BJP had won 115 seats.
This year, the region has become all the more important because this is the home turf of Yogi Aditynath and any dent in the vote share will be seen as impending impact on PM Modi’s success in 2024. By delivering series of public welfare projects, BJP hopes not just to consolidate its voter base but also better its 2017 numbers.
Another factor that is weighing heavily on BJP’s strategy-makers is lilkely loss of seats in Western UP due to year-long farmers protest. The farming community is enraged over ‘forceful’ imposition of farm laws and may ‘punish’ the saffron party in ensuing polls.
PM Modi’s 6 visits to Eastern UP in 8 weeks
The BJP has started mobilising support, months ahead of Assembly polls. And, who else to lead from the front other than Narendra Modi, who remains the most credible & reliable face of the party.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made almost 6 visits to the state in past 2 months for inaugurating projects of national importance.
In October, PM Modi inaugurate Kushinagar International airport & also 9 medical colleges. In November 2021, PM Modi participated in the Purvanchal Expressway inauguration that was done with much fanfare, pomp and was a big public spectacle to watch. Inauguration of Saryu canal project & Gorakhpur AIIMS followed next.
PM Modi’s two-day visit to the holy town of Kashi is the most talked about event and is drawing much appreciation for the party. Political observers believe that restoration of the glory of temple town may well be the gamechanger event as lakhs of devotees connect with the iconic structure that was razed multiple times by foreign invaders.
Samajwadi Party’s push & Rajbhar factor
Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) is already in poll mode and covering ground in Eastern UP by cobbling alliance with smaller parties. In the run-up to Assembly polls, SP has stitched alliance with Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), Mahan Dal, Apna Dal & Janwadi Party.
Among them, SBSP & Mahan Dal command considerable amount of vote share in respective communities and if that converts into vote for SP-led alliance, the outcome may have serious repercussions for saffron party. Mahan Dal, formed by ex-BSP leader Keshav Dev Maurya, has support of Maurya, Kushwaha, Shakya & Saini communities which accounts for 6% of state’s population.
Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party led by Om Prakash Rajbhar is posing to be another strong influence in UP politics. Having broken away from BJP, it tied up with SP and has 4 MLAs. It represents the Suheldev-Rajbhar community of the state.
It’s this community that PM Modi tried to address during the inauguration of Kashi Vishwanath corridor inauguration. PM Modi in his speech said, “If Aurangzeb comes, a Shivaji also rises from the soil. If any Salar Masud comes, then brave warriors like King Suheldev made him the power of our unity.”
As the Elections approach, BJP’s top leadership is likely to woo this community with greater intensity. In 2017 polls, Rajbhar’s party contested UP polls in alliance with the saffron party.
Earlier this year, PM Modi had unveiled a statue of King Suheldev in UP and the Centre also released a postal stamp featuring him and renamed a superfast train as “The Suheldev Express”.
Winning the assembly constituencies under Purvanchal region is all the more important this year, because a ‘weakened’ Yogi govt is seeking fresh mandate for 2nd term while Modi govt is also fighting to ward off negative perceptions arising out of weak economic indicators. Covid-induced job crisis is another potential threat that may derail BJP’s victory march.
Though economy has started looking up with bright GDP estimates, how much will it impact voters’ mind remains to be seen. And, therefore BJP won’t have second thoughts about launching a no holds barred campaign on bragging about its achievements in religious & spiritual sphere.
