Gorakhpur: tough task again for BJP

This is a seat that the BJP — more so Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath — wants to win desperately. Adityanath referred to as 'Maharaj' here, had won this constituency situated in Poorvanchal, the eastern part of UP, successively from 1998 to 2017.

As he became CM, he vacated the seat and in the ensuing by-election, the BJP suffered a shock defeat. Rivals Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party formed a formidable alliance in 2018 wresting the constituency for the first time since 1989 from the priests of Gorakhnath temple.

Like last year, it is unlikely an easy outing this time too for BJP. One glance at the caste combinations points out that the SP-BSP Gathbandhan is on a strong wicket. Its candidate Ram Bhuwal Nishad belongs to fishermen caste which has a substantial population in the constituency - 3.5 lakh out of the total of some 19.5 lakh. This, along with the combination of OBCs, SCs and Muslims, presents a strong picture in favour of the GTB.

That the margin of defeat last year was 21,961, is a relief for Adityanath, chief priest of the Gorakhnath mutt, who is leaving no stones unturned to ensure the party’s victory. He has brought in popular Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan as the BJP candidate. The CM has visited the constituency several times, shared dais with the actor and joined BJP president Amit Shah in a roadshow.

Ram Nishad points out at the filth in the main roads of the city to direct barbs at the CM. “Although Adityanath was MP for two decades, he hardly improved the city infrastructure.” Interactions with several voters in the constituency lead to a conclusion that BJP is in for a hard-fought battle.

Congress has chosen to contest here, fielding Madhusudan Tripathi, a lawyer. The Congress campaign is hardly visible (it secured a mere 2.6% votes in 2018). Tripathi is a Brahmin so the Brahmin votes may get divided between Congress and BJP.

BJP had been winning the seat since 1991 (when Mahant Avaidyanath, Yogi Adityanath’s senior in the mutt, won as BJP candidate) and since then, Gorakhpur is considered one of BJP’s strongholds. Adityanath’s margin of victory increased phenomenally from around 20,000 to 3.12 lakh in 2014, bagging more than half the votes polled.

The success was attributed to his youth outfit, Hindu Yuva Vahini. However, in a matter of four years, voters turned against him last year. The BJP had won all the five Assembly segments of the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha constituency in the 2017 Assembly polls.

Gorakhpur district SP president Prahlad Yadav is confident of repeating the 2018 performance. He told DH: “Ravi Kishan is not a strong candidate. Even BJP cadres have not accepted him. He does not know the constituency whereas our candidate is a two-time MLA, a former minister.” Mohammad Abbas, SP leader and former minister, points out that in 2014, Kishan got a mere 4% votes contesting as the Congress candidate in Jaunpur.

Becharam, former MLA from Chouri-Chara and BJP SC Morcha general secretary told this newspaper at the party office in the city: “We will make it although it will be tough in four rural seats. We looked into our areas of weakness which led to our defeat last year and improved upon them. It is a prestigious fight for us. We will avenge our defeat.”