UP bypolls: Vote katua Atiq to hurt SP

Political equations in Uttar Pradesh changed overnight after Bahujan Samaj Party extended support to Samajwadi Party candidates in Gorakhpur-Phulpur Lok Sabha bypolls. Now permutations and combinations are being discussed and how Congress and Atiq Ahmad could influence polls.

Both seats now seem to witness a triangular contest between the BJP, SP and  Congress.  Though, the BJP has an upper hand in Gorakhpur LS seat left by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Phulpur seat vacated by Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya would witness a keen contest.

Candidature of Independent Atiq Ahmed from Phoolpur could dent the vote bank of the Opposition camp leading to some benefit to the BJP.

A man with a criminal record, Atiq was in Samajwadi Party until recently and holds sway among Muslims. He carries the image of a desi Robinhood and will prove a ‘vote katua’ for Samajwadi Party which is banking on MBC and SC votes.

It is over 24 hours since BSP co-ordinators in Gorakhpur and Allahabad announced support to the SP but the question remains whether the announcement of a coordinator level leader will lead to transfer of votes from BSP to SP.

Mayawati has ruled out any alliance with the SP but she did not tell her voters that they should vote for SP in bye-elections. She asked voters to vote for the party which is close to defeating the BJP – which even could be Congress or Atiq Ahmad.

SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said that this was the style of Mayawati. “She did not name the SP but her coordinators have specifically asked the BSP cadre to vote for SP and this matters,” he said. 

Gorakhpur Parliamentary seat is considered to be a stronghold of Gorakhpeeth as late Mahant Avaidyanath was an MP from 1989 to 1998. After him, Yogi Adityanath won the seat for five consecutive terms.

BJP candidate from Gorakhpur Upendra Shukla is a well-known face among Brahmin voters and his selection is an attempt to woo Brahmin voters. Shukla has been associated with the BJP for quite some time and even tried to contest Assembly elections, but could not get a ticket at that time.

In Gorakhpur, the Samajwadi Party has fielded Praveen Kumar Nishad, son of Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad, as its candidate. Congress has fielded Surhita Chatterjee Karim.

In Phulpur, a Backward dominated Parliamentary constituency, the SP has fielded OBC leader Nagendra Singh Patel. He would be up against BJP candidate and fellow OBC leader Kaushlendra Singh Patel, who has also been Varanasi Mayor. The Congress has fielded Manish Mishra for this seat.

Voting for both bypolls will be held on March 11, while counting of votes will be held on March 14.