TOUGH FIGHT IN VARANASI
The BJP is facing stiff challenge from the BSP and the
SP-Congress alliance in North Assembly segment of parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had conducted a roadshow so as the party could retain the seat. In 2012, BJP candidate Ravindra Jaiswal had succeeded in wresting the seat from sitting MlA of SP Abdul Samad Ansari with narrow margin. The BSP candidate Sujit Maurya had finished second with getting 45,644 votes. Jaiswal had secured 47,980 votes. The SP came third. The BJP had succeeded in registering victory in this constituency in 2012 after 1993 as it had lost to the SP in 1996 which maintained its victory spree till 2007. This time too, the BJP leadership showed its trust on its sitting MlA despite strong protest within party. Even a senior party leader Sujit Singh ‘Tika’ rebelled and is in election fray on the ticket of AD-Krishna Patel Group. The BSP has also given ticket to Sujit Murya who had given neck-to-neck fight in 2012 and lost the seat just a margin of 2,336 votes. But under an alliance, the SP had given the seat to the Congress which pitched none other than former MlA of its alliance partner Abdul Samad Ansari who had represented the constituency in 2007 as SP nominee. like in 2012, the BSP candidate Sujit Maurya seems to be giving tough contest to Ravindra Jaiswal despite the fact that the BSP Chief Mayawati held no election rally in his favor. Maurya is relying on party base vote which is decisive number in the constituency. Though, he is also eying on Muslims who play an important role in deciding fate of any candidate because of party gave the maximum tickets to leaders of minority community. Moreover, to retain the seat is matter of prestige for the BJP because it falls under parliamentary constituency of the PM. If the BJP lost the seat the opposition particularly Congress would find an opportunity to say that the PM has lost his charisma as he could not save the seat of his own parliamentary constituency.
NEW FACE, NEW CHAllENGE!
It is indeed a big challenge for the BJP which has given ticket to new face. Interestingly, it is the seventh time for the family of late Harishchandra Srivastava to contest from Varanasi Cantonment Assembly seat. This family of the BJP loyalists have remained faithful to the party and perhaps this is one of the main reasons why the BJP has given ticket to Srivastava’s son Saurabh. Family of former Minister Harishchandra Srivastava has been holding the seat since 1991. In 1991 and 1993, wife of Ex-UP Minister, Jyotsana Srivastava registered victory on the BJP ticket but she left the seat for her husband in 1996 and 2002 who continued the winning spree. In 2007 and 2012, Jyotsana again registered victory. Hence, the seat remained to the family of former Minister since 1991.This time Jyotasana sought ticket for her son Saurabh Srivastava because of health reason and the party did not disappoint her. But by giving ticket to Saurabh Sriavstava the party invited strong protest from own leaders who also took their protest to street.