Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Ghosi Assembly seat in Mau district and former Cabinet Minister Fagu Chauhan is confident of his victory.
In his three-decade long electoral career, Fagu has changed several parties.
Beginning a career as a socialist, in 1985 he won election on lKD (lok Dal) ticket. But after losing the election, he contested on JD (Janata Dal) ticket in 1993.
later on he won two elections as BJP candidate in 1996 and 2002. But in 2007, he again joined the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and after winning the election became Cabinet Minister during the Mayawati Government. In 2012, he lost to Samajvadi Party (SP) candidate Sudharkar Singh whom he had defeated in 2002.
later on he got back into the BJP’s fold. And this time around, he is up against sitting SP MlA Sudharkar and shooter-turned-politician and son of mafia don Abbas Ansari (BSP).
“There is wave in my support,” he said, adding that the BJP has succeeded in wooing the most backward castes (MBCs).
Besides, former BSP Rajya Sabha MP Dara Singh Chauhan is also contesting as BJP candidate from Madhuvan seat in Mau district. Chauhans (Noniyas), Rajbhars (Kanus) and some other MBCs always played key role in not only four seats in Mau but also in some adjoining seats in Ballia, Ghazipur, Azamgarh and Deoria districts.
For the BJP, the alliance with Om Prakash Rajbhar-led Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) for which the NDA has left Mau seat against Mukhtar is also an advantage. “We’re confident about winning all four seats of Mau district and I’m facing no challenge from any party because during my last five terms as MlAs I had worked a lot for the constituency,” said Chauhan.