BJP still mum on crucial seats in UP
The BJP in Uttar Pradesh is yet to unveil its candidates for 12 crucial Lok Sabha seats, enveloping the political landscape in uncertainty.
Among the significant seats where candidates are awaited are RaebBareli, Kaiserganj, Mainpuri, Deoria, Ballia and Firozabad.
The BJP’s central election committee, comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit
Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his deputies Brijesh Pathak and Keshav Prasad Maurya, convened in Delhi on March 23 to deliberate on potential candidates for various Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh.
In 2019, of the abovesaid 12 seats, the BJP secured nine, while the Samajwadi Party (SP) clinched Mainpuri, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) triumphed in Ghazipur and the Congress won Raebareli.
While the BJP released its first list of candidates for 51 LS seats in UP on March 2, the remaining 13, including one replacement, were announced on March 24. However, suspense continues over the final 12. Of the total 80 LS seats in UP, the BJP has allocated five to its partners. Although discussions have taken place regarding potential candidates for the remaining 12, no announcement has been made yet.
FUELS ANXIETY
The prolonged delay has fuelled anxiety among ticket aspirants, resulting in intense lobbying for candidacy. Several hopefuls have converged in Delhi, aiming to meet senior party leaders influential in ticket allotment. Sources suggest the BJP is awaiting the Congress’s announcement for the Raebareli seat before finalising its candidate.
Raebareli, a stronghold of the Congress, has remained beyond the BJP’s reach despite the Modi wave in 2014 and 2019. However, with Sonia Gandhi opting for the Rajya Sabha, the BJP perceives an opportunity to make inroads.
SP’S MAINPURI HOLD
The Samajwadi Party has maintained a grip on Mainpuri since 1996, posing a challenge for the saffron party.
Amid speculations, it is anticipated that the BJP might field an upper caste candidate to regain the Ghazipur seat. Virendra Singh Mast, the BJP candidate from Ballia, might undergo a seat change.
Sitting BJP MP Ramapati Ram Tripathi vies for a ticket from the Deoria LS seat, while local BJP leaders also clamour for their candidacy.