SP goes all out to counter 'Modi effect' in Rohaniya

As many as 50 minister-rank people have been deployed to ensure victory

The Rohaniya Assembly bypoll, a segment under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi, has become a prestige issue for the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP).

The party has deployed an army of ministers and senior leaders to cause an upset, though it will be difficult with the “Modi effect” still visibly prevalent among the electorate.

The BJP has left the seat for its alliance partner the Apna Dal (AD), whose general secretary Anupriya Patel was the sitting MLA but resigned after her election to the Lok Sabha earlier this year. 

The saffron party is not taking any chances and its workers and leaders have been campaigning aggressively to ensure a smooth sailing for Apna Dal nominee Krishna Patel.

No caste influence

Though the constituency is dominated by the Patel community, the caste factor has been relegated to the backburner as both the Congress and SP have also fielded candidates from the same caste.

But Modi continues to be a major factor in Rohaniya. “Modiji is trying to change the face of Varanasi….we will get employment opportunities if big industries are set-up here,” said 25-year-old Prashant Patel, a resident of Mohan Sarai in the constituency.

There is hardly any one here who does not know about Modi’s talks with Japanese leaders on developing Varanasi.

Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha gave an assurance at a election meeting here that a proposal to manufacture electric engine at the Diesel Locomotive Works at Maduadih near here was under consideration.

BJP leaders and Central ministers, who have been campaigning, sought support for the AD nominee in the name of Modi. They have been telling the people what is in store for them in the days to come.

According to SP sources, as many as 50 minister-rank people and full fledged ministers have been deployed in the constituency to ensure a victory for the party nominee Mahendra Patel. The ministers have been sweating it out in the constituency and holding mass contact programmes. “We are well placed here…we will cause an upset,” said state Transport Minister and constituency in-charge Durga Yadav.

The SP leaders also said that the outcome of the bypoll would decide the fate of the people holding minister-rank posts. Though the Congress also fielded a Patel, the party does not seem to stand a chance. Campaigning duties have been largely relegated to local leaders. 

The Bahujan Samaj Party has decided not to contest the bypolls.

With the “Modi effect” still in place, the AD nominee appears poised for a victory.