There is still time for the UP assembly elections, but political parties have already started preparing to woo the voters. On one hand BJP is busy in burglary in Akhilesh Yadav’s parliamentary constituency Azamgarh, on the other hand Akhilesh Yadav’s eyes are visible on Gorakhpur. The rallies of these leaders and their presence at different places have raised the political temperature and this political confrontation looks interesting. Let’s take a look at the political developments.
Akhilesh, Modi will give the gift of expressway in Gorakhpur
Akhilesh Yadav has started strengthening the party’s chessboard in Purvanchal by taking out Vijay Rath Yatra from Gorakhpur, that too when PM Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are going to give the gift of Purvanchal Expressway to UP on November 16. It is clear that BJP wants to cultivate Purvanchal through this. Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav started the third phase of Samajwadi Party’s Vijay Rath Yatra in Yogi’s stronghold Gorakhpur on November 14. During this, Akhilesh Yadav raised the issue of inflation and targeted the BJP regarding the condition of the farmers. During this Akhilesh Yadav said, ‘BJP should not worry about 2024, rather they should answer the question of the people in 2022. Why inflation has increased in the country, why petrol and diesel prices have increased, why farmers’ income has not increased till now, why youth of the state are not getting employment, such questions should be answered.
During this, Akhilesh Yadav also raised questions on Yogi Adityanath’s digital skills and said that Yogi Adityanath is not fit to become the chief. Let us tell you that this is the same area where the Samajwadi Party could not even open an account in the 2017 elections. BJP had captured 8 out of 9 assembly seats in Gorakhpur, while one seat went to BSP.
Akhilesh surrounded BJP in Gorakhpur
This time Akhilesh Yadav is looking very serious about Gorakhpur as well as the entire Purvanchal. He said in the rally, ‘Seeing the crowd, it seems that the people want change. The public has faith and is sure that BJP will be wiped out from here. BJP had promised to double farmers’ income, which did not happen. Income and profits fell, instead of increasing income, inflation increased. BJP has insulted Annadata the most. The people of BJP used to say that the wearer of Hawai Chappal did not ride on the aeroplane, made diesel-petrol so expensive that he could not ride a motorcycle.
Purvanchal, which once belonged to the SP, but in the 2017 elections, the BJP gave a big blow to the SP by winning 115 of the 165 seats. Whereas in the 2012 elections, the situation was slightly different, when the SP got 3 seats, the BSP got 1 seat, the Congress got 2 and the BJP got 1 seat. This time SP can also get success here, because at present issues like employment, inflation have brought the Yogi government in the dock, which SP is trying its best to capitalize on.
Akhilesh will also go to Azamgarh
Akhilesh Yadav will move to Azamgarh on November 17 after his Vijay Rath Yatra, the timing of which is also being speculated that SP can make a big election announcement here. Although Akhilesh Yadav had planned to take out Vijay Rath Yatra from Ghazipur on November 16 before going to Azamgarh, but he has not been given permission, which may intensify the stir in the political corridors.
BJP engaged in cultivating Rajbhar community
On the other hand, BJP is raising issues ranging from addressing Rajbhar voters in Akhilesh Yadav’s stronghold Azamgarh to changing the name and questioning the law and order situation. UP CM Yogi Adityanath addressed a public meeting in Azamgarh in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday and said, There will be a new state university in the name of Maharaja Suheldev, which will end the identity crisis of Azamgarh.
Let us tell that at the grassroots level, Suheldev is called Rajbhar or Bhar Rajput who is known as the protector of Hindu religion. Yogi government has tried to reach Rajbhar voters in Azamgarh by giving them due respect.
The Rajbhar community has played a special role in the politics of UP, whose total share in UP is 18 percent, while this society holds its major dominance in more than 60 assembly constituencies. In Azamgarh, their number is large and by cultivating them here, BJP can be successful in strengthening its position a little.
Indications given to change the name of Azamgarh
Apart from this, Yogi Adityanath indicated to change the name of Azamgarh to Aryamgarh. He said that there should be no doubt that this university will truly transform Azamgarh into Aryamgarh. This trend did not stop here, Home Minister Amit Shah attacked the weak pulse of Azamgarh and said that “Today we are doing the work of building the Dham of Maa Saraswati ji on the same land which was known as Azamgarh, which was known as a safe haven for fundamentalist thinking and terrorism under the SP regime in the world.” Amit Shah told the general public to divide the caste, riots, appeasement and choose the government by rising above the politics of vote bank.
caste equation of azamgarh
Yadav-Muslim share in Azamgarh is about 40 percent, Dalit 22, non-Yadav OBC 21 and upper caste 17 percent. This is the reason why BJP could never show anything special here. PM Mod has addressed many big public meetings here. Still, there was no change in the BJP’s position, but now it also appeared to be changing when the BJP made its presence felt by winning 11 out of 22 block chief seats in Azamgarh.
BJP’s weapon ignoring Akhilesh
The reason for this includes the efforts of the Chief Minister Yogi government in taking the benefits of free ration distribution, Ujjwala and pension scheme and Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme to the public. Another reason for this is the contact of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with the public during the Corona period and the disappearance of Akhilesh Yadav. Posters of Akhilesh Yadav, who was missing at that time, were also put up in Azamgarh. Taking advantage of the neglect of Akhilesh Yadav, BJP started increasing its infiltration in Azamgarh. After this, the party organization has worked to create an atmosphere for the BJP by taking the achievements of the government to the people.
Clearly, Akhilesh Yadav’s SP and BJP do not want to miss a single opportunity to break into each other’s stronghold, and holding one after the other rallies, public meetings has become a part of their strategy. In Azamgarh, the change is visible positive for the BJP. At the same time, it is too early to say anything about Gorakhpur, but Akhilesh Yadav’s efforts cannot be ignored.
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