Vast areas, distant places and highest number of voters (in the district) of both urban and rural parts of Ujjain South (unreserved) constituency is posing problems for BJP and Congress candidates. As the polling date (November 28) is approaching fast, both of these candidates are focusing towards their vote banks. Accordingly, sitting MLA Mohan Yadav is canvassing in slum areas whereas his opponent Rajendra Vasishtha is doing the rounds of rural areas.
Comparatively both are young candidates having touched the age of around 55 years, but are finding it difficult to approach each and every voter of the constituency. Yadav is a PhD in political science and maintains moveable and immoveable property worth about Rs 32 crore. Vasishtha is an MBA and LlB and had joined politics after resigning from a class-2 government job some 20 years ago. He maintains movable and immoveable property worth about Rs 19.50 crore.
SLUM AREAS ON TARGET
A cow suddenly came on the path of Ujjain South BJP candidate Mohan Yadav when he reached a slum area under ward-48, in Ujjain on Monday, to contact electorates. FP PHOTO
On Monday Yadav, canvassed in ward-48 which is considered to be biggest ward of the city as it comprises about 18, 000 voters. Nearly 10, 000 of these voters reportedly live in slum areas of Shanti Nagar, Lohar Patti etc. Illegal localities, open drains, illiteracy, curved and unprepared roads are the identity of this ward, which is represented by BJP corporator Santosh Yadav.
Mayor Meena Jonwal, BJP general secretary Rajendra Jhalani, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Mukesh Yadav were the prominent persons who accompanied the party candidate during campaigning. Mohan Yadav’s body language did not exhibit sign of happiness rather he looked tired. Some of his supporters also looked nervous as election meeting of Uttar Pradesh ChiefMinister Yogi Adityanath was cancelled at the eleventh hour. On being asked by Free Press that what response he is getting from electorates, Yadav said presently he is bowing in front of everybody so as to seek their support.
63 VILLAGES ON PRIROITY
Ujjain South Congress candidate Rajendra Vasishtha had to take help of villagers to cross a small ditch when he reached Hasampura, in Ujjain on Monday, for poll campaigning. FP PHOTO
Rajendra Vasishtha, who fought 2008 assembly election as a rebellion candidate, is contesting the election on Congress symbol this time. Presently, he is leader of opposition in Ujjain Municipal Corporation. On Monday, his huge cavalcade reached villages located between Indore Road and Chintaman Ganesh Mandir Road. Most of the villages comprise voters of Khati, Anjana and Patidar communities.
This constituency and its villages are spread on Maksi Road, Dewas Road, Indore Road, Chintaman Ganesh Mandir Road and Barnagar Road and thus its identity is of a semi-urban seat. He was accompanied by Parmanand Verma commonly known as Masterji among others. Villagers tied Malwi turban on his forehead and girls performed his aarti. Some of them told this correspondent that they had to celebrate Black Diwali this year as despite repeated requests non-functional transformer of the village Hasampura was not changed. Vasishtha claimed that he would get more votes from rural areas as compared to urban areas.
OBC VOTERS TO BE DECISIVE FACTOR
Ujjain South comprises highest 2, 42, 784 voters in the district. Out of them, 1, 23, 249 are male voters, 1, 19, 517 are female voters and number of third gender voters is 18. In all 1, 23, 470 (more than 50 percent) voters belong to under 39 age group. 6467 of them are first time voters. Other Backward Caste voters who are reported to be 43 percent in the constituency are deciding factor. Number of SC voters is about 28 percent. Number of upper caste voters is about 20 percent and Muslim voters are estimated to be about 8 percent.