As campaigning for Uttar Pradesh (UP) assembly begins, the delimitation of constituencies has upset calculations of political parties.
As campaigning for Uttar Pradesh (UP) assembly begins, the delimitation of constituencies has upset calculations of political parties. They can no longer afford to rely on old caste and communal data while deciding a candidate or strategy to lure voters.
Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha said that the delimitation exercise has carved out new 163 new constituencies out of the total 403 seats.
That means a change of political geography in almost a whopping 40% seats. The exercise has reduced reserved scheduled caste (SC) seats from 89 to 85.
It has also marginally increased Muslim dominated seats with some reserved seats like Bijnor and Nagina now thrown open for general candidates.
In Bahraich district, Nanpora seats were alternating between the BJP and the BSP. After remapping, the Samajwadi Party (SP) is smelling victory, as the new seat boasts of 1lakh Muslim voters.
In Badaiun district, the new borders have changed the political geography. In this region, Binawar segment has been merged and distributed in Badaiun and Balsi segments. Five time MLA Ramsevak Singh Patel is now trying his luck in neighbouring Badaiun city and the SP candidate Vimal Kishan Agarwal has moved to Balsi.
Out of the 19 assembly segments in Barailey region, four have changed colour and names of other five have been changed. The new seats have come up with new caste and communal equations.
Barailey city seats, considered a safe bastion for BSP candidate Rajesh Agerwal is dicey, as dominated Vaish caste has been reduced to just 9.8%. Muslim numbers in this seat have increased from 20% to 36%. The SP is now pulling all the strings to claim this seat.
They have fielded Dr Anil Sharma. But, the newly-launched Peace Party may spoil its chances, as they too have sniffed blood, banking on the burgeoning Muslim numbers.
In contrast, Barailey cantonment seats have witnessed a decrease in the Muslim proportion from 45% to 3%, whereas, the number of Lodh and Vaish have increased, making it a safe seat for the BJP. Similarly, the Bare Chainpur seats considered a heaven for the SP for its Yadav and Muslim dominance has changed character after the delimitation.
Yadavs have been reduced from 10% to 5.5% and Muslims from 21% to 18%. In the neighbouring Mirganj, Muslims votes have increased from 25% to 29% and Lodh votes stand at 14.7%. The BSP has fielded an SP defector MLA Sultan Beg to bank on the increase in Muslim numbers.
In Shahjahanpur district, a new Katra segment has been carved out from Nigohi assembly seat by remapping few tehsils and blocks. In another Tilhar seat, number of Yadav have decreased while Lodhs have increased substantially. The city seats of Shahjanpur, which used to share 60 and 40% populations between Hindus and Muslims respectively has changed colour with the addition of six Muslim villages. Muslims now constitute almost 45% of population. In Podayan, the number of Sikhs and Pandits has increased after demarcation.
Interestingly, Bairaich district holds distinction of having more women voters than men after the delimitation. In the seven assembly segments out of total 19,10,879 voters, 11,16,081 are women. In Balihar assembly segment, fairer sex accounts 1,58,616 votes, compared to 1,29,140 votes of men.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}