Political fortunes of allies also at stake in poll finale

Lucknow: Of the nine districts where voting was held in the seventh phase on Monday, Azamgarh and Jaunpur are considered among the bastions of SP.

While Omprakash Rajbhar is believed to have a significant influence in Mau and Ghazipur districts, BJP’s alliance partner Apna Dal (S) and Sanjay Nishad-led Nishad Party were also considered to have a strong hold on the Non Yadav OBC caste groups.

In the 2017 assembly elections, the then BJP ally SBSP had won three seats while the Apna Dal got four seats.

The Nishad Party could get only one seat. Notably, last time Nishad Party had contested 72 seats in alliance with Dr Ayub’s Peace Party.

On behalf of this party, Bahubali leader Vijay Mishra won the election from Bhadohi’s Gyanpur seat. However, then the influence of Vijay Mishra on the voters of the area was considered as the main factor of victory.

This time Vijay Mishra contested from Pragatisheel Manav Samaj Party, whereas in the seventh phase, candidates of Nishad Party contested on four seats, Atraulia, Saidpur, Gyanpur and Shahganj.

Besides Sanjay Nishad’s party, the VIP party has also claimed to hold on to the Nishad caste group. The Mukesh Sahni-led VIP party of Bihar contested the UP assembly elections for the first time; it fielded 32 candidates..

It is obvious that there is a tough competition between both, the Nishad Party and the VIP, to prove their hold on their caste group.

In the last phase itself, along with the opposition, NDA’s ally JDU also escalated the challenges of BJP strategists. In fact, the NDA constituent JDU in Bihar also fielded its candidates in the UP elections.

Because of this, BJP and allies faced a tough challenge in Malhani, Mungra Badshahpur, Zahoorabad, Majhwan, Ghosi, Gyanpur, Varanasi Cantt, Bhadohi, Mughalsarai, Rohini, Madihan, Dhorwal, Robertsganj, Madiyahun and Chunar.

Most of these seats have a high number of Kurmi voters. On whom both Apna Dal (S) and JDU have been claiming to have a strong hold.