The polling for second phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are underway in 67 crucial constituencies of the western region of the state. All major political parties are hoping for a record mandate in order to form government in the state. Spread over 11 districts of western UP, voting is happening today amid tight security arrangements in places like Saharanpur, Bijnor, Moradabad, Sambhal, Rampur, Bareilly, Amroha, Pilibhit, Kheri, Shahjahanpur and Badaun. While the ongoing polls are touted to be a litmus test for Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and its three years long regime, ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) is trying its best to retain the lead here. SP won 34 seats here during the 2012 Assembly polls. During the months long high-decibel campaigns, UP saw all political figures blaming their counterparts for slow development and failure of law and order here. While the incumbent CM Akhilesh Yadav has blamed PM Modi of fooling people in the name of ‘achhe din’, his party is largely banking upon development agenda with his ‘Kaam Bolta Hai’ campaign. Even PM Modi had been critical about Akhilesh and blamed him for not working towards the development of the state.
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The aggressive back to back rallies and roadshows conducted by Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has made the elections a triangular bet. During her rallies, the BSP supremo had attacked both BJP and SP on the issues of development and demonetisation. Attacking PM Modi, Mayawati had also said that the BJP government is interfering with the personal law of Muslims and ending reservation for backward communities.
Bhojpur is constituency No. 195 of Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly. It comes under Farrukhabad Parliamentary Constituency. It is an open constituency.
Number of voters
Bhojpur Assembly constituency has 2.2 lakh registered voters. Out of these, a massive 42-45 per cent are Muslims and rest are OBCs (Other backward cast) and Rajputs (forwards).
What are the key issues
Development has been one key issue here.
Who was the winner last time
The ruling SP won this constituency by a margin of 18,629 votes during the 2012 Assembly elections. Jamaluddin Siddiqui, the winning SP candidate, bagged a total of 51,650 votes followed by Mukesh Rajput of JaKP who got 33,021 votes.
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Who are the competing candidates
Nitin Singh Jaimini Rajput (BSP), Nagendra Singh (BJP), Vishram Singh (RLD) and Arshad Jamal Siddiqui (SP).
Why this constituency is important?
This is one of the most crucial constituency all BJP is seen to be dominating here. Post the demonetisation, public of this region gave a thumbs up to the saffron party and it will be a tough polls for both SP and BSP here. Mayawati’s pursuit of the Muslim votes may bear some fraction as this is a Muslim dominant constituency.
