The Samajwadi bastion of Mainpuri district is falling out of favour. The Yadav political clan no longer enjoys a monopoly over the politics of the Mainpuri district. Once considered a citadel of the Samajwadi Party is today brimming with praise for the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government of Uttar Pradesh. Under the Mainpuri district, there are four assembly constituencies. These are Mainpuri, Bhongaon, Kishni and Karhal. The Samajwadi Party currently holds the fort on all these constituencies, but come May 10 – Mainpuri as a district might just end up dumping the red-capped socialists for good.
We are not saying this. The locals of Mainpuri believe that it is not going to be a rosy rise by any stretch of the imagination for the Samajwadi Party this time around. SP has fielded sitting MLAs Raju Yadav, Brijesh Katheria, Alok Kumar Shakya from Mainpuri Sadar, Kishni and Bhongaon Assembly constituencies respectively. There has been a big change from Karhal though – as Akhilesh Yadav has himself decided to contest the seat, with an aim of carrying forward his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav’s political legacy in the district.
By contesting from Karhal himself, Akhilesh Yadav wishes to galvanise waning support for the Samajwadi Party all across the district.
What Are Locals Saying?
According to voters of Mainpuri district, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) can give tough competition to the SP. While speaking to news agency ANI, many lauded the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government for improving the law-and-order situation throughout the state in the past five years.
Here is what the locals which ANI spoke to feel about the elections in Mainpuri district’s four constituencies this time:
“BJP’s impact is good this time. Earlier it used to be a cakewalk for SP candidates but now I can say there is a tough fight between SP and BJP.
“We are happy as we are getting free ration from Yogi government. Mafiaraj and Hooliganism is over.
“There was infrastructure development during the SP rule but it did happen much in the current BJP government. But, when it comes to administration, the Yogi government is better. a combination of both will be best for the public.”
The voters of Mainpuri reiterated that unlike previous elections, when the Samajwadi Party scored clean sweeps in the district, this time around, the BJP is going to give the Yadav family a run for its money.
What SP’s Dwindling Fortunes in Mainpuri Suggest
Mainstream media and pollsters want you to believe that the Samajwadi Party is going to give a tough fight to the Bharatiya Janata Party throughout Uttar Pradesh, which will result in a larger-than-expected seat share drop for the saffron party. Intriguingly, though, the Samajwadi Party is facing an existential threat in Mainpuri from the BJP. Mind you, voters of Mainpuri are considered loyal supporters of the Samajwadi Party.
So, how is it that SP finds it difficult to save its deposits in Mainpuri district, but is in a position to challenge the BJP throughout Uttar Pradesh? Again, Samajwadi Party playing a major spoilsport for the BJP all across Uttar Pradesh is nothing but a figment of the imagination of those who occupy high seats in Noida film city’s studios.
Read more: Why Akhilesh Yadav is running scared of BJP’s Agra MP S. P. Singh Baghel?
The BJP is banking on backward castes, apart from the Lodhi – Kshatriya and Brahmin castes of Mainpuri district to help it sail past the Samajwadi Party. Last year, there was an attempt at driving Hindus out of a Mainpuri town at the behest of Islamists. This seems to have resulted in a counter-polarisation among the Hindu barracks, which is why the Samajwadi Party has begun sweating the life out of itself in the Mainpuri district.
Akhilesh Yadav now stares at the prospect of losing Karhal, while the SP’s deposits in the three other Mainpuri constituencies are ceased.