The region of nine eastern UP districts bordering Nepal is one which has been a cauldron of religious upheavals, writes Deepak Gidwani.
LUCKNOW: The seventh and last phase of the UP election scheduled for Tuesday presents a scenario which is at once strange and interesting. This region of nine eastern UP districts bordering Nepal is one which has been a cauldron of religious upheavals. But instead of throwing up saviours of the faith, the region has borne a virtual army of tainted politicians.
A recent survey done by UP Election Watch, an apolitical organisation, reveals that this region, which includes 59 Assembly seats, accounts for the maximum number of candidates with criminal records - 162 of the total 882 who have dubious credentials.
The list includes the likes of mafia don Mukhtar Ansari, former minister and prime accused in the Madhumita Shukla murder case Amarmani Tripathi, and one-time history-sheeter and now minister in the Mulayam government Hari Shanker Tiwari.
“It is indeed surprising that these criminals have thrived and survived in an area known for its deep religious roots,” says Dr Lenin of UPEW. Ayodhya in Faizabad and the famous Gorakhnath Temple of Gorakhpur are the focal points of this region.
The BJP uses Ayodhya as a symbol of Hindutva. Party MP Yogi Adityanath, who presides over the Gorakhnath Temple as its ‘mahant’, is a young Hindutva icon who
commands a huge following among Hindus in the entire eastern UP and even across the borders in Nepal.
But, interestingly, despite the religious fervour of the region, the BJP’s electoral fortunes have been dwindling here. In the 2002 election, the Samajwadi Party (SP) was the frontrunner with 21 seats, the BSP got 17, and the BJP 10. The Congress won four, while seven seats went to other parties and independents.
“Last time, Kalyan Singh was not with us. This time around he is leading the BJP campaign. That would make the decisive difference and we would repeat our 1991 performance in this region,” says state BJP president Kesrinath Tripathi. The BJP, riding the Ram wave, had virtually swept this entire region in 1991.
This time, too, Kalyan assiduously projected his “Ayodhya hero” image with “ugra Hindutva” (aggressive Hindutva) as the theme of his speeches. The Mulayam government’s gamble of putting Yogi Adityanath behind bars after rioting in Gorakhpur a month ago also seems to have worked in the saffron brigade’s favour.
Since 1993, the contest in this region has been a direct one between SP and BSP. “This time things are different,” says BSP general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP SC Misra. “This time our fight is with the BJP. The SP will be wiped out and the gain will be entirely ours,” he asserts.
Meanwhile, the EC has decided to allow voting in this phase as per the January 15 voter list. The list was amended till the last date of filing of nominations, as is the rule.
UP’s Chief Electoral Officer AK Bishnoi says: “A large number of names had been struck out in this amended list which had led to major complications. This time, we are using both — the January 15 list as well as the amended list. A voter’s name in either of the lists would entitle him to cast the vote.”
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