It is a land of great Shaktipeeth, Vindhyavasini Devi. It is a land of a large number of big industries including thermal, aluminum, coal, cement, chemical and many more. It is a land of natural beauty with several waterfalls in Vindhya mountain range. It is also a land of rich carpet exports and traditional handicrafts of Chunar stone arts, pottery, Mirzapur dharis and Bhadohi carpet.
Mirzapur is one of the most backward divisions in the State affected by Naxal activities and stone mafia. Apart from huge economic activities, the Vindhyachal (Mirzapur) division comprising three districts of Sonebhadra, Mirzapur and Sant Ravidas Nagar (Bhadohi) is politically neglected one despite having big geographical area.
It has also seen sharp economic disparities where some people engaged with business activities and industry enjoy luxurious life, while majority of poor, tribals and farmers are struggling for "Roti, Kapda aur Makaan" waiting for 'Achchhe Din' for last seven decades by just singing the song of this famous Bollywood movie of 1970s "teri do takiya ki naukari me mera…"
For the party which has coined the slogan of 'Achchhe Din', the recent polls, except the last lok Sabha, was not good one as in 2012, it finished blank. Out of 12 seats, eight were claimed by the SP, two by thw BSP and one each by the Congress and Independent (also supported by the Congress). However, in 2014 the BJP claimed all three parliamentary seats because of Modi and is hoping to do well this time too.
This Assembly election is also prestigious one for political future of many. The tallest among them is, undoubtedly, leading tribal leader Vijay Singh Gond, who virtually dominated the affairs in tribal-dominated and most Naxallite-hit Dudhi Assembly since 1980 winning seven times. It was due to long fight, the State had declared some sub-castes of SC as ST in some districts, including Sonebhadra. Despite that happiness this former Minister had received a jolt in 2012 when his nomination was cancelled as the seat remained reserved for SC.
Gond riding on Elephant is facing strong challenge from Anil Kumar Singh (Congress) and Hari Ram of Apna Dal (Soneylal), supported by the BJP. In last poll, the Congress supported candidate Rubi Prasad had won.
As Obra seat has also become reserved for ST its sitting MlA Sunil Singh Yadav has shifted Robertsganj where new track is not smooth as he is facing challenges from BJP's Bhupesh Choubey and sitting SP MlA Avinash Kushwaha. Similarly, in Ghorawal sitting SP MlA Ramesh Chand Dubey is facing strong storm from Beena Singh (BSP) and Anil Kumar Maurya (BJP) and in Obra (ST), there is triangular fight among Virendra Pratap Singh (BSP), Sanjiv Kumar (BJP) and Ravin Gond (SP).
Politically biggest district Mirzapur, the prestige of aging former high-profile Minister of BJP and five-time MlA Om Prakash Singh is at stake as he is leaving no stone unturned for ensuring win for his son Anurag Singh (BJP), apprising the people of huge development work done in Chunar during his time. In last poll, he himself faced humiliating defeat finishing third.
However, the road for his son Anurag is not easy as Anmol Singh (BSP) and sitting SP MlA Jagtamba Singh are fighting well in this Kurmi-donimated seat where AD(S)-led by Union Minister Anupriya Patel was staking its claims. Congress has high hope in its young laliteshwar Pati Tripathi to retain his seat in Marihan.
lalitesh is great grandson of Pt Kamlapati Tripathi and his family is dominating Congress politics in Banaras areas for last four generation.
He is facing challenges from both Awadesh Kumar Singh (BSP) and Rama Shankar Singh (BJP) and in Majhawan, sitting BSP MlA Ramesh Chand Bind has tough time against Shuchismita Maurya (BJP) and Rohit Shukla (SP). In Mirzapur, Akhilesh's minister Kailash Chaurasiya is facing rocky pitch for his fourth successive win as he is being strongly challenged by BJP's Ratnakar Mishra and Mohd Parvez Khan (BSP). There was time when saffron forces dominated politics here when even in 1969 and '74 Jansangh candidates had hoisted flags apart from four consecutive wins for Dr Sarjeet Singh Dang, a dedicated Sikh leader, after Ram temple movement in 1989.
Shocking story of rich carpet export belt of Bhadohi, a smallest district with just three Assembly seats, was least seriousness shown by the elected representatives towards the growth of centuries old cottage industry as caste and religious factors always dominated there.
Despite shifting of constituencies and parties, former BJP and BSP minister Rangnath Mishra is still facing it tough to revive his political career. Earlier, he won four times from Aurai. He won twice on BJP tickets and equally on BSP and in both governments he got ministerial posts but when Aurai turned reserved for SC in last elections he shifted to Mirzapur but lost to Kailash Chourasiya.
This time he is contesting from Bhadohi which has become general seat since 2012 but here too he is facing it tough fight against sitting SP MlA Zahid Beg and Ravindra Nath Tripathi (BJP). In Aurai (SC), sitting SP MlA Madhubala Pasi is facing challenges from former minister of BSP government Dinanath Bhaskar fighting as BJP candidate and Baijnath Gautam (BSP). In Gyanpur, SP has replaced its muscleman sitting MlA Vijay Mishra and fielded veteran Ramrati Bind who won first time in 1974 on BKD ticket. He had fought many lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls but succeeded for second time only in 1989 from this seat as JD candidate. He is facing challenges from his own fishermen community candidate Mahendra Kumar Bind (BJP) and Rajesh Kumar Yadav (BSP) apart from rebelled three- time sitting MlA Vijay Mishra contesting as Nishad party candidate.