The road to victory for BJP from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency Varanasi appears to be not a smooth one as was the case with the party in 2014 lS polls.
Though Modi’s men succeeded in changing the face of both the two villages adopted by the PM under Adarsh Sansad Gram Yojna, Jayapur and Nagepur, they failed to mobilise the other adjoining villages, allowing the rivals especially led by UP Minister Surendra Patel to improve Samajvadi Party’s chance here.
Now sitting MlAs Surendra Patel and his younger brother Mahendra Patel of SP are among front runners from Sevapuri and Rohaniya, the two rural Assembly segments of PM’s lok Sabha seat.
BJP’s decision to field its candidate from Rohaniya has only led to resentment within NDA partner with Anupriya Patel’s Apna Dal (Sonelal) not happy with the development. In 2012 Assembly elections, AD had won Rohaniya and finished second at Sevapuri while BJP performed poorly there finishing fourth and sixth respectively. After Anupriya’s resignation when she was elected MP from Mirzapur, Mahendra Patel of SP won the seat from AD defeating Krishna Patel.
Infighting over ticket distribution in BJP has emboldened the Congress that after having an alliance with the SP is ready to give stiff contest to the BJP in all three constituencies of city areas — City South, City North and Varanasi Cantonment — the BJP’s stronghold.