BSP under pressure to retain its Ambedkar Nagar bastion

Lucknow: Switching sides has always been a part of the poll scenario and turncoats invariably spice up the contest. Not surprising therefore, after Amethi, the most closely watched battle of party hoppers would be in Ambedkar Nagar, one of the remaining few bastions of the BSP, which goes to hustings the sixth phase UP assembly elections 2022 on March 3.

Voters in the district did not change their political preference and voted for the BSP when the party faced a route in 2017 polls.

The party won three out of the five seats in Ambedkar Nagar district - Akbarpur, Katehari and Jalalpur (though in the by-election Jalalpur went to SP).

The big question is will BSP manage to retain its stronghold this time also, specially when its regional party satraps have switched loyalties and joined the SP?

These turncoats include Tribhuvan Dutt (contesting from Alapur), Rakesh Pandey (contesting from Jalalpur), Akbarpur MLA Ram Achal Rajbhar (contesting from Akbarpur), Katehari MLA Lal Ji Verma (contesting from Katehari).

“Their exit in a series may not impact the BSP so much on the ground but it will definitely mount psychological pressure on the party managers and demoralise the cadres,” says Abhinav Pandey, a journalist who has closely followed the political developments.

Another assembly seat Tanda, where BJP has changed its ticket and placed faith in Kapil Deo Verma.

SP has fielded former MLA from Akbarpur Ram Murti Verma. BSP initially fielded Manoj Verma but when SP announced Ram Murti Verma’s candidature, the former changed its candidate and fielded 3 term independent chairman from Ashrafpur Kichauchha Shabana Khatoon who joined BSP immediately after she was denied SP ticket.

The situation is similar on other seats too. In Akbarpur its sitting MLA Ram Achal Rajbhar who will contest on SP ticket for the first time vs Chandra Prakash Verma contesting on BSP ticket who contested on BJP ticket last time vs Dharmraj Nishad contesting on BJP ticket who contested on BSP ticket last time from Goshainganj assembly seat.