Trying to maintain goodness of hand: The talk of the Bahubalis of Purvanchal is not complete without veteran Harishankar Tiwari. Harishankar Tiwari, who came out as a domineering face in the 80s, was an MLA for 22 years. He was also a minister many times. After losing the elections of 2007 and 2012, he himself is away from politics, but his son Vinay Shankar Tiwari is maintaining his favor. Vinay Shankar, who became MLA from BSP in 2017, is now in the fray from Chillupar seat on SP ticket. This seat has been occupied by Brahmins for almost 37 years. Here after Brahmins, Dalits and Nishads play a decisive role. Here BJP has fielded Rajesh Tripathi and BSP has fielded Rajendra Singh alias Pehalwan Singh.
Abbas Ansari replaces Mukhtar in Mau
Mukhtar Ansari, the MLA from Mau seat since 1996, is not contesting this time. He is in Banda Jail. Two candidates are in the fray from the new generation of the Ansari family, who have been a political threat for a long time. His son Abbas Ansari is in the fray on the ticket of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, which is in alliance with the SP. In this Muslim-dominated seat, the alliance of Scheduled Castes with Muslims has been decorating Mukhtar Ansari’s head of victory. Here BSP’s state president Bhim Rajbhar and BJP’s Ashok Kumar Singh are in the fray. Similarly, Abbas’s cousin Mannu Ansari is in the fray from Mohammadabad seat on SP ticket.
Abhay vs Khabbu in Ayodhya: During the assembly elections in Ayodhya, there is a direct battle between two musclemen. In the sensitive Gosainganj assembly seat, former SP MLA Abhay Singh and former BJP MLA Indra Pratap Tiwari alias Khabbu Tiwari’s wife Aarti Tiwari are in the fray. Khabbu Tiwari is in jail after being sentenced in the fake marksheet case. Firing has also taken place between these two groups. In such a situation, the eyes of the people are fixed on this seat.
Son became Ranchhod because of father: The names of former MP Umakant Yadav and former MP Ramakant Yadav remain in the headlines in the Bahubalis of Azamgarh and Jaunpur. This time former MP Umakant Yadav is away from the electoral fray. But former Azamgarh MP Ramakant Yadav is in fray from Phulpur Powai on SP ticket. His son Arunkant Yadav is a BJP MLA from this seat. When the SP gave the ticket to the assembly to the father Ramakant Yadav, the son left the election field. BJP has fielded Ramsurat and BSP has fielded Shakeel Ahmed in this Yadav and Muslim-dominated seat.
All eyes on the battle of Bhadohi: This time the Nishad Party did not give ticket to Vijay Mishra, the MLA of Gyanpur, one of Bhadohi’s strong faces. He is in the fray from Pragatisheel Manav Samaj Party. Nishad Party has fielded Vipul Dubey, SP has fielded Ramkishore Bind and BSP has fielded Upendra Kumar Singh. Vijay Mishra is contesting from the jail itself.
Brijesh Singh’s nephew in the field in Chandauli: Mukhtar Ansari’s arch rival Brijesh Singh is in jail in Purvanchal. He is MLC. He himself is not contesting, but his nephew Sushil Singh is in the fray from Sayedaraja seat in Chandauli district. Sushil became MLA for the first time from Dhanapur in Chandauli. It is followed by BJP MLA from Sayedaraja. Now in the field for the fourth time. BSP has fielded Amit Kumar Yadav and SP has fielded Manoj Kumar in Sayedaraja seat.
JDU’s support to Dhananjay Singh: Jaunpur district earlier used to have Rari assembly seat. Dhananjay Singh, who started his political journey from this seat, was MLA twice and MP once. There are many lawsuits against them. Dhananjay’s wife Srikala Reddy is the district panchayat president. The Malhni assembly seat formed in the new delimitation is Yadav dominated. The Nishads play a crucial role along with the Kshatriyas, Brahmins. In the year 2017, Dhananjay Singh landed from Nishad Party, but was defeated by Parasnath Yadav of SP. After the death of Parasnath, Nirdal fielded in the by-elections in the year 2020, but was defeated by Paras’s son Lucky Yadav. This time SP has fielded MLA Lucky Yadav, while Dhananjay is in the fray on Janata Dal (U) ticket. Here BJP has bet on former MP KP Singh and BSP on Shailendra Yadav.
Siege of Raja Bhaiya: There is a threat of Bhadri royalty in politics. Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Rajbhaiya reached the assembly from Kunda in 1993 as an independent candidate. Since then he has been winning this seat continuously. He was a minister in the governments of Kalyan Singh and Mulayam Singh. He was also a cabinet minister in Akhilesh Yadav’s government. However, now his ways are parted from the SP. They have formed Janata Dal-democratic. For the first time, Raghuraj Pratap Singh is in the fray from his party instead of an independent. For the siege of Raja Bhaiya, SP has fielded his own disciple Gulshan Yadav. BJP nominated Sindhuja Mishra and BSP Mohd. Bet on Faheem.
These were also in the headlines: BSP has fielded Aman Mani Tripathi from Nautanwan of Maharajganj assembly. Amarmani’s son Amanmani Tripathi, who came into the limelight after the Madhumita Shukla murder case, is also accused of killing his wife Sara. From here Kunwar Kaushal Singh of SP and Rishi of Nishad Party are in the fray.
These are off the field
Atiq Ahmed: Bahubali Atiq Ahmed, who appeared in Prayagraj in the 90s, started his political journey with SP. But he did not get attention in this election.
Udaybhan Singh: Former MLA of Aurai Udaybhan Singh alias Dr. Singh is serving life imprisonment.