In certain areas of Purvanchal, the “gathbandhan” is dominant

In the twin seats of Azamgarh and Lalganj in eastern Uttar Pradesh, there seems to be a convergence of the backward vote towards the SP-Congress.

“The SP-Congress is guaranteed a four lakh vote base in both seats. Despite having a Muslim candidate in Azamgarh, there is little chance that Muslim voters would defect to the BSP, according to Rajesh Maurya, who owns a cement company in Bindra Bazar.

Akhtar Rasool, who joined the discussion from a nearby tea shop, explains, “This is because Muslims will be consolidating towards the SP after the suspicious death of Mukhtar Ansari, former MLA from neighboring Ghazipur district, and Guddu Jamali from the BSP has joined the SP.” With 2.5 lakh votes, Jamali was the one who indirectly assisted well-known Bhojpuri singer Nirahua in winning the Azamgarh Lok Sabha byelection in 2022. As a result, Dharmendra Yadav, the cousin of SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav and seen as the next big thing in the Mulayam Singh Yadav family, was unexpectedly defeated.

A 10-year jinx would also be eagerly broken by Dharmendra, who last triumphed in 2014. “The SP must avoid making the same error of becoming complacent. In the 2022 bypoll, Akhilesh exuded excessive confidence. According to Rakesh Pal, a teacher at a school in Rani ki Sarai, which is 15 kilometers from Bindra Bazar, “He did not even come here to campaign.”

Dharmendra shouldn’t be too concerned. Making sure SP-Congress voters show up in this extreme heat is crucial. As it has become hotter, we have noticed a decline in the voting percentage, according to Jagdish Yadav of the SP.

On the other hand, a portion of the Yadav voter base has been targeted by the BJP’s Nirahua or Dinesh Lal Yadav followers. It would be difficult for Dharmendra to win, according to BJP worker Naresh Pandey, who is working hard in Sathiaon, outside of Azamgarh town. He believes that a combination of the Yadav vote and the BJP’s traditional base, which consists of upper castes, labarthis (receivers of Modi’s largesse), and retrogrades like the Mauryas.

However, sporadic chats with some of the underprivileged, who, with the rise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, provided the BJP with the extra boost to record striking victories in UP and Bihar, indicate that the appeal of the Center’s freebie scheme is waning and that the Congress’s pledge to provide Rs 1 lakh to every woman is being given careful consideration. “Under Akhilesh’s Lohia Awas Yojna, the Rs 2.5 lakh for each home was better. Additionally, they provided a solar panel, according to Gulabo Devi, a Lalganj farm laborer.

The BSP MP in office, who is now the BJP’s contender for the reserved seat, was taken advantage of. That doesn’t, however, level the playing field since the SP feels confident in its 40% Muslim and Yadav voter base.