UP By Election 2024: There is a tough contest between SP and BJP in the by-election for Sisamau Bypoll seat of Kanpur. This seat has been held by SP for a long time and this time also the party has used all its strength to retain its hold. After the membership of SP MLA Irfan Solanki was cancelled, SP has placed its bet on his wife Naseem Solanki, who is trying to get people’s support through her tears.
BJP is also trying to show its strength in this area which has about 45 percent Muslim voters. BJP’s entire focus is visible in Hindu dominated areas and the party is also visible in such areas. In such a situation, it is believed that polarization will play a decisive role in Sisamau assembly constituency. The election of this assembly constituency has become a battle of prestige for both SP and BJP parties.
Direct contest between Naseem Solanki and Suresh Awasthi
BJP has fielded Suresh Awasthi from Sisamau assembly constituency. Suresh has already contested the assembly elections twice. In 2017, he had given a tough fight to SP’s Irfan Solanki but Irfan managed to win by about five and a half thousand votes. Suresh Awasthi has been active in the political field since his student days and this time BJP has made a complete strategy to ensure his victory.
In the 2022 elections, Irfan Solanki had won this assembly constituency on SP ticket. By-elections are being held due to Irfan’s membership being canceled after the court’s sentencing, on which SP has fielded his wife Naseem Solanki. These days Irfan is lodged in Maharajganj jail. Virendra Kumar Shukla from BSP is trying to challenge SP and BJP.
Solanki family has been occupying the seat for a long time
This assembly seat has been held by the Solanki family for the last 22 years. Before Irfan Solanki, his father Haji Mushtaq Solanki has been showing his strength on this seat. If we talk about the last three assembly elections, the margin of victory of Irfan Solanki on SP ticket has been fluctuating. He had won the 2012 assembly elections by 19,663 votes but his victory margin had reduced in the 2017 elections.
In 2017, BJP’s Suresh Awasthi gave him a tough fight in which Irfan Solanki won by 5826 votes. Irfan had won the 2022 assembly elections by 12,266 votes. Now after the cancellation of assembly membership, this assembly election has become a battle of prestige for the Solanki clan as well as SP.
Caste equation of the assembly constituency
If we talk about the caste equation of the area, 45 percent Muslim votes in this area have been proving to be a strong base for SP. SP has been successful in showing strength here only on the basis of Muslim votes. If we look at the recent assembly elections, SP has been getting full support from Muslim votes. 25 percent general voters in the area also play an important role in the elections.
There are about 16 percent Dalit voters in the area while 14 percent are voters belonging to various other castes. Apart from Muslim voters, SP is also trying to break into other communities while BJP is trying to keep the voters of General, AC and other communities united.
People knowledgeable about the area say that like the last elections, this time too polarization will have a big impact. This is the reason why efforts are being made by both the parties to keep their respective forts safe.
How much effect will Naseem’s tears have?
An attempt is being made by SP candidate Naseem Solanki to create a wave of sympathy among the voters. She has been shedding tears during her election rallies and pleading for justice for her husband and former MLA Irfan Solanki. She does not forget to say that her victory will open the way for Irfan Solanki to get justice. Even before the nomination, tears welled up in his eyes. She is busy telling the public in her election meetings that atrocities have been committed against her husband.
SP leaders have made a strategy to garner support from ward to booth level. Now it remains to be seen how much impact Naseem Solanki’s tears can have in the elections. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has also held a meeting in favor of Naseem Solanki. However, the SP leader could not gather the expected crowd in her meeting held on Wednesday. More than half the chairs were lying vacant in the election meeting of SP chief. However, a lot of factionalism is also visible in Kanpur SP.
Yogi’s sharp attack on SP
On the other hand, BJP is also trying to break SP’s winning streak in Sisamau. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has held a public meeting in this constituency and during this he made a scathing attack on SP. Yogi’s public meeting was held in Darshanpurwa area and there Yogi made a strong attack on Irfan Solanki without taking his name.
He said that the Kanpur rioter is lodged in Maharajganj jail but SP people are calling him innocent. He had also reminded of the 1984 riots and raised questions on SP’s silence at the time of the murder of Raju Pal and Umesh Pal. Echoes of Yogi’s slogan ‘If you divide, you will be cut’ are also being heard in the assembly by-elections. The effect of this slogan can also be seen in this assembly by-election.
Polarization will have a big impact
To strengthen the election prospects of BJP candidate Suresh Awasthi, a team of party state president Bhupendra Singh Choudhary and several state ministers are camping in the area. Many MLAs and MLCs are also present in the area. BJP leaders are making a scathing attack on SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on the pretext of Irfan, pointing out the shortcomings of the SP regime.
SP’s influence is visible more in Muslim areas whereas BJP is seen dominant in many Hindu areas. In such a situation, it is believed that polarization will play a decisive role in Sisamau and this will become the basis of the election result.
