Despite heavy rains over the past 24 hours in Gonda, the spirit of the voters did not die, as they waited for the rains to stop to come out in great numbers.
Despite heavy rains over the past 24 hours in Gonda, the spirit of the voters did not die, as they waited for the rains to stop to come out in great numbers. While in the first four hours the voter turnout was low in the district, by the end of the day it came close to 57%. In the last state elections, the voter turnout was just about 43% here.
With seven constituencies, out of which three have been renamed after delimitation, Gonda is likely to be dominated by the Samajwadi Party. In the last elections, the SP and the BSP came out equal with three seats each. This time five seats — include Karnalganj, Taraganj, Mehnoon, Mankapur and Gonda-Sadar — are likely to go with the SP.
The remaining two seats of Gaura and Katra are likely to be won by the BSP and the BJP respectively.
The resurgence of the SP here is a result of many factors. “Employment is a big issue. While Mayawati has razed off many illegal commercial structures during its rule, it did not provide jobs to those who lost their livelihood. Some people are hoping that if the SP comes back, they will be allowed to build their commercial structures once again,” said Suryapal Singh, an author and former professor at Degree College, Gorakhpur.
In 2007, while BSP managed to woo the Muslims and Brahmins along with the Dalits, the benefits of the social schemes started by Mayawati failed to ignite any loyalty among these people.
“About 70% of the beneficiaries of the Kanshiram Awaas yojna are Muslims. It is because the scheme was for the urban areas; and in cities, Muslims are more backward than the Dalits. While this has not gone down well with the Dalits, urban Muslims may not be able to win the battle for Mayawati,” said Sriman Singh, an advocate at the civil court in Gonda.
Also, not giving seats to some of its winning candidates could cost Mayawati a lot. In the Gaunda-Sadar constituency, Mayawati’s decision to not give ticket to sitting MLA Mh Jalil Khan is likely to benefit the SP as Khan, who is contesting as an Independent, will take away the Muslim votes from the BSP.
“Though the Dalits will vote for Mayawati, her chances here are very bleak,” said Ram kumar, a Dalit voter in Gonda-Sadar.
In Mehnoon constituency, a similar situation exists where Pratibha Singh (Peace Party) has split the votes of the BSP. Singh — as a BSP member — was the member of the district panchayat but did not get ticket for assembly elections from the BSP.
The Congress is not in the fray even in one constituency. “The Congress has no base in this district. People did not even allow Beni Prasad Verma to speak in the rally held here recently. How can the Congress win here?” said a senior police official who was present at the Congress rally.
Another senior government official said, “People come to watch the helicopters in which the Congress leaders fly. What they speak is of no value to them.”
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