Nirendra DevGautam Buddh Nagar (Uttar Pradesh)/ New Delhi
Its election time and hence the cow-belt state of Uttar Pradesh is amid all sorts ofpolitical debates and controversies. There are heated exchanges on the quality of democracy in India and in many quarters, the long shadow of despotism or tyranny is also hanging over.Eight parliamentary segments in the Yogi Adityanath-ruled Uttar Pradesh is set for second round of polling on Friday, April 26th. These constituencies are Gautam Buddh Nagar, Bulandshahar, Amroha, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Baghpat, Aligarh and Mathura.These constituencies form parts of western Uttar Pradesh and people from variouscaste and religious groups including a neo-middle class will decide the fate ofthe candidates and also PM Narendra Modi’s in more ways than one.While Muslims may fall isolated and the Jat-Muslim combine is not happeningafter RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary decided to join the BJP-led NDA.Other formidable caste groups Gujjars, Kashyaps and Brahmins may also tilt the balance in a number of segments in this phase of polling.Although Renuka Chaudhry of RLD says BJP-RLD combine will sweeppolls; some local residents in Barot dismiss such preparedness by the BJP and say, “This time, people have made up their mind to defeat the BJP”.Voters in Gautam Buddh Nagar area — not far from national capital Delhi – say people feel that the country facing what is perhaps the most testing time in its history. The Hindu assertion is a key factor and this automatically could mean marginalisation of Muslims. “Do we really deserve this ?,” asks a 30-year-old property dealer Sunil Bhardwaj.His issue is really basic and that is why it raises eyebrows.”In today’s electoral politics we have only big talks and big allegations. Hindu …Muslim etc…. but there is otherwise a basic absence of social leadershipand in such a situation politics cannot be really a matter of confidence building”.Among others one spoke to in the Gautam Buddh Nagar constituency; some agree to Sunil’s assessment and others do not.A 22-year-old student and a female says, “In our area, general law and order is the public issue. Under Yogi it is comparably safe now but eve teasing is a north Indian disease we do not have such a thing in Maharashtra”.Of course, originally a Mumbai girl she says the society is divided and can appearcommunal but this is also mainly because some hooligans keep instilling fear and despair and this deepens divisions”.Her response to the challenge is: “I will definitely vote… but will not discuss politics or even Ram temple matters with a journalist”.However, she says there will be a triangular contest in Gautam Buddh Nagar between BJP, Opposition Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of Mayawati.The BJP has fielded sitting MP Dr Mahesh Sharma, a former Union Minister whileMahendra Singh Nagar is the Samajwadi Party candidate and Rajendra Singh Solanki is the BSP nominee.In 2009, BSP’s Surendra Singh Nagar had won the seat defeating Mahesh Sharma of BJP. But in last two elections, that is – 2014 and 2019 – Sharma has able to retain it. Polls this year will be exciting yet again.And it must be kept in mind that in 2019 BSP nominee Satveer Nagar was far behind Dr Mahesh Sharma who had polled over 8 lakh votes and the victory margin was over 3,30,000 votes.Strong and straight contests are expected in two segments between the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party and the BJP in Aligarh and Bulandshahar.In 2019, Aligarh saw three-cornered contest between BJP’s Satish Kumar Gautam and BSP and the Congress candidate. BJP won it. He had won in 2014 also.This year Satish Kumar Gautam will take on Samajwadi Party’s Bijendra Singh.Unemployment is among the most critical issues for citizens of Aligarh, who will vote in the second phase of the ongoing elections on April 26. Locals would also want the issue of price rise addressed by the elected government once polls are over.Modi addressed a public meeting in Aligarh on Monday April 22.Aligarh is famous for lock-making industry and political activists have crafted jokes based on ‘locks’ saying the rival parties will be forced to shut their shops and put an ‘Aligarh ka tala’ at the door after the poll results come i