BJP leaders have attributed the low polling in both the constituencies to the demotivated party workers, who were angry due to arrogance and apathy of the party leadership. For the first time, the workers were missing in the elections as they felt neglected under the Yogi government. A report, for Different Truths.
Besides the understanding between Samajwadi Party and BSP, the anger of BJP workers and leaders and the collapse of administration are responsible for the humiliating defeat of BJP in Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha by-elections.
SP candidate Praveen Kumar Nishad won by 21,881 votes in Gorakhpur and in Phulpur SP candidate defeated BJP by a margin of 59,613 votes.
BJP leaders have attributed the low polling in both the constituencies to the demotivated party workers, who were angry due to arrogance and apathy of the party leadership. For the first time, the workers were missing in the elections as they felt neglected under the Yogi government.
The arrogance of the leadership is exposed by one Agra-based leader, who uploaded his conversation with a senior leader who refused to meet him. The office-bearers were also unhappy as they had been told not to write to any government officer for any work or approach them directly. Similarly, the government had also asked government officials not to entertain party workers for any work.
Such an attitude from the chief minister and the party leadership resulted in all power being concentrated in the bureaucracy, which stopped to entertain party leaders and workers for their genuine works. So much so even senior party leaders find it difficult to get their work done through the bureaucracy.
Senior cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar publicly exposed large-scale corruption in police set-up at the thana level. Rajbhar also alleged high-level corruption running into several hundred crores of rupees in the education department. Several ministers complained that their orders were not being carried by the bureaucrats, but no action was taken.
There is a virtual collapse of administration in the Yogi raj, which resulted in non-implementation of various welfare schemes meant for general public. The tragic incident in which children lost their lives in Gorakhpur medical college due to lack of oxygen is still fresh in the memory of people. The irresponsible statement by the minister Sidharth Nath Singh that it was common phenomenon for children die in the month of August had evoked great resentment. Similarly, large scale police encounters ordered by Yogi also antagonised public as in some cases innocent persons were killed to achieve targets.
There was total apathy by the youth in the election, which was apparent from the low turnout in voting. The youth is unhappy about the failure of the Modi government in last four years and the Yogi government in the last one year to generate employment.
The understanding between Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati helped in consolidation of OBCs, minorities and Dalits in favour of SP candidates, which increased the vote percentage. In both places BSP workers came out openly to support SP candidates and party flags were also visible in the campaign. The impressive victory of SP candidates is attributed to the transfer of votes by BSP voters as directed by Mayawati.
Mulayam Singh Yadav had entered into an alliance with BSP founder Kanshiram in 1993 to counter BJP riding on the Ram Mandir wave after the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992. The combination of SP and BSP came to power with Mulayam Singh Yadav becoming the CM.
Again Samajwadi workers were waving pictures of Mayawati at Samajwadi Party rallies to acknowledge the support given by her. Samajwadi Party workers were even raising slogans suggesting possible alliance in future to capture power at the centre and UP.
Samajwadi Party leaders are quite optimistic that the thanksgiving visit of Akhilesh Yadav to the residence of Mayawati will usher a new era of alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Pradeep Kapoor
©IPA Service
Photo from the Internet
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