For the Tourism Minister and SP stalwart Om Prakash Singh, the Zamania Assembly constituency of Ghazipur district is an uphill task. This time the BJP candidate Sunita Singh is giving tough contest to him. Though the BSP candidate Atul Rai has made contest triangular.
In 2012, Om Prakash Singh had registered one sided victory with securing 82,745 votes and the BSP candidate Umashankar Kushwaha finished second with getting 53,588 votes while the BJP had shown poor performance with standing at third.
But this time, Om Prakash Singh is facing tough contest from the BJP nominee Sunita Singh. Anti-incumbency factor could be seen visibly against the Minister and he is facing protest even in his native village Gahmar, the biggest village of Asia. In previous election, the forward class had voted for him and this was reason why he had registered victory with huge margin but this time this class seems to be annoyed with him.
Kushwaha community has maximum around 60,000 numbers in this constituency and they are said to be against Om Prakash Singh. Kushwaha community was against him in previous election too and voted for BSP candidate Uma Shankar Kushwaha who is said to be in favour of BJP this time. This is giving an edge to BJP against the SP senior leader.
Besides, the dalits are on second position with over 65,000 in number after about 70000 Muslims. Dalits are also said to be against the minister as they had always been against him, although he is getting favor of Muslims. Dalits are also said to be divided between the BJP and the BSP and it could be additional advantage for the BJP candidate as it is supposed to be traditional vote of the BSP. The note ban of the PM Narendra Modi had a major section of dalit community in favor of BJP contrary to expectation of Congress and SP.
Yadav community is also in sizable number with about 50000 populations and despite having no relation with Om Prakash Singh it is believed that they would vote in favor of hum because of Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav.
Bhoomihar community is over 20000 in number and it is said to be traditional voters. Though, the division could be seen among them because of the BSP who has fielded a bhooimar Arul Rai. People of Bind and Rajbhar communities are also said to be in favor of BJP this time because they are against the SP candidate.
Though, Atul Rai is trying to make contest triangular but his proximity to Ansari brothers (Agzal Ansari and Mukhtar Ansari) is going against him. The independent Muslim candidate Tauqir Khan is making dent in Muslim votes and it is going against Rai who is heavily relying on minority community.