JAUNPUR: The present political churning in Jaunpur belies its sleepy demeanour. The town famous for its ‘imartis’ (dessert) has given a taste of success to all major parties, and this is the reason why stakes are high in this election too.
Amid the battle of turncoats fielded by BJP and SPlocal strongman Dhananjay Singh has added ‘tadka’ to the contest with his swift and swinging loyalties within days.
The dramatic ripples in Jaunpur’s political bowl started on March 3 when BJP named the candidature of former Maharashtra minister and ex-Congressman Kripashankar Singh. Next day, Dhananjay, who was elected MP on a BSP ticket from the seat in 2009, expressed his wish to enter the fray. But the plan got nixed when a court convicted him on March 6 in an extortionkidnapping case and handed him a seven-year jail term.
Dhananjay headed to the jail but managed to secure a BSP ticket for his wife and zila panchayat chairperson Srikala Reddy from the seat. His confinement too was brief as the ‘bahubali’ neta walked out of jail on May 1 after getting bail from Allahabad HC. Thereafter, in a sudden turn of events, Srikala took back her candidature and BSP fielded its MP Shyam Singh Yadav on the last day of filing of nomination. Dhananjay, thereafter, extended support to BJP on May 14 and Srikala’s picture of courtesy call to Union home minister Amit Shah went viral on social media.
Kripashankar, who joined BJP in 2021 after quitting Congress, hails from a Rajput family of Jaunpur and is playing the ‘homecoming’ card.
For local voters, the changing equations are a bit confusing. Arun Tripathi, a real estate businessman, says, “The past two months were diffi- cult for BJP supporters who also have good relations with Dhananjay. His sympathisers were angry after he was arrested though they have cooled now after he allied with BJP.” Local BJP functionaries like Surendra Pratap Singh and Vidyasagar Sonkar say BJP has found a cushion with Dhananjay’s decision.
SP is banking on caste calculations and support from Muslims. SP has fielded BSP turncoat Babu Singh Kushwaha, once a close lieutenant of BSP supremo Mayawati before he fell out of favour after getting mired in the National Rural Health Mission scam. It’s a quest for resurrection for Kushwaha, who has been in the political wilderness since the scam. His entry upset local SP cadre as he reached the town with his chosen poll managers. SP brass had to intervene and pacify the party ranks to set the ball rolling. The party has intensified campaigning among traditional voters of Mauryas and Kushwahas.
Sources say sitting BSP MP Shyam Singh Yadav, whom the party had denied ticket initially, opened talks with SP and was even promised a ticket from Jaunpur but Kushwaha made the final cut. Yadav’s ties with BSP brass were not cordial and he also took part in Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra. Jaunpur-based lawyer Brijbhushan Singh says, “With all twists and turns, Jaunpur will not be a cakewalk for any contender because of caste and communal equations.”
The town’s 19.58 lakh voters expect a close contest as each Brahim, Rajput, OBC, Muslim and Dalit votes have almost equal share of around 15%. It has sent 11 Rajputs, four Yadavs and two Brahmins to Parliament so far. “Dalit voters play a key role. In 2014, they ensured a smooth win for BJP but drifted towards BSP in 2019,” says Jamil, another local resident.
Amid the battle of turncoats fielded by BJP and SPlocal strongman Dhananjay Singh has added ‘tadka’ to the contest with his swift and swinging loyalties within days.
The dramatic ripples in Jaunpur’s political bowl started on March 3 when BJP named the candidature of former Maharashtra minister and ex-Congressman Kripashankar Singh. Next day, Dhananjay, who was elected MP on a BSP ticket from the seat in 2009, expressed his wish to enter the fray. But the plan got nixed when a court convicted him on March 6 in an extortionkidnapping case and handed him a seven-year jail term.
Dhananjay headed to the jail but managed to secure a BSP ticket for his wife and zila panchayat chairperson Srikala Reddy from the seat. His confinement too was brief as the ‘bahubali’ neta walked out of jail on May 1 after getting bail from Allahabad HC. Thereafter, in a sudden turn of events, Srikala took back her candidature and BSP fielded its MP Shyam Singh Yadav on the last day of filing of nomination. Dhananjay, thereafter, extended support to BJP on May 14 and Srikala’s picture of courtesy call to Union home minister Amit Shah went viral on social media.
Kripashankar, who joined BJP in 2021 after quitting Congress, hails from a Rajput family of Jaunpur and is playing the ‘homecoming’ card.
For local voters, the changing equations are a bit confusing. Arun Tripathi, a real estate businessman, says, “The past two months were diffi- cult for BJP supporters who also have good relations with Dhananjay. His sympathisers were angry after he was arrested though they have cooled now after he allied with BJP.” Local BJP functionaries like Surendra Pratap Singh and Vidyasagar Sonkar say BJP has found a cushion with Dhananjay’s decision.
SP is banking on caste calculations and support from Muslims. SP has fielded BSP turncoat Babu Singh Kushwaha, once a close lieutenant of BSP supremo Mayawati before he fell out of favour after getting mired in the National Rural Health Mission scam. It’s a quest for resurrection for Kushwaha, who has been in the political wilderness since the scam. His entry upset local SP cadre as he reached the town with his chosen poll managers. SP brass had to intervene and pacify the party ranks to set the ball rolling. The party has intensified campaigning among traditional voters of Mauryas and Kushwahas.
Sources say sitting BSP MP Shyam Singh Yadav, whom the party had denied ticket initially, opened talks with SP and was even promised a ticket from Jaunpur but Kushwaha made the final cut. Yadav’s ties with BSP brass were not cordial and he also took part in Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra. Jaunpur-based lawyer Brijbhushan Singh says, “With all twists and turns, Jaunpur will not be a cakewalk for any contender because of caste and communal equations.”
The town’s 19.58 lakh voters expect a close contest as each Brahim, Rajput, OBC, Muslim and Dalit votes have almost equal share of around 15%. It has sent 11 Rajputs, four Yadavs and two Brahmins to Parliament so far. “Dalit voters play a key role. In 2014, they ensured a smooth win for BJP but drifted towards BSP in 2019,” says Jamil, another local resident.
