UP Ex Minister Who Switched To Samajwadi Party Faces Stiff Challenge In Fazilnagar

Kushinagar (UP): Influential OBC leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya, who recently switched over to the SP along with some other BJP leaders, faces a tough challenge to enter the assembly for the sixth time. Close on the heels of a BJP master stroke of inducting former Union minister and popular OBC leader RPN Singh to cover up for the loss, Maurya changed his constituency from Padrauna to Fazilnagar within the Kushinagar district. However, the poll battle may not be easy for him in Fazilnagar which was won by Ganga Singh Kushwaha of the BJP in 2017. According to estimates of political parties, the Fazilnagar assembly segment has around 90,000 Muslim voters, 55,000 Maurya Kushwahas, 50,000 Yadavs, 30,000 Brahmins, 40,000 Kurmi-Sainthwars, 30,000 Vaishyas and about 80,000 Dalits. The BSP has nominated Ilias Ansari for the seat and he threatens to split the votes of its electorally dominant community, taking the advantage away from the SP, which is banking on its traditional vote bank. Political experts think Maurya's chances rest on Muslim votes not getting split. With BJP nominee Surendra Singh Kushwaha being a fellow caste man and since RPN Singh could rally Kurmi-Sainthwars with him, Maurya's bet rests on how Yadavs and Muslims vote. The constituency will vote in the sixth round on March 3. Because of Maurya, political activities are at their peak in Fazilnagar, located about 20 km from Kushinagar. The 68-year-old politician resigned as the labour and employment minister in January, accusing the Uttar Pradesh government and the BJP of neglecting backward classes and Dalits. Local poll watchers think preventing Maurya's victory has now become a question of reputation for RPN Singh as he campaigns for the BJP across the district.

Kushinagar (UP): Influential OBC leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya, who recently switched over to the SP along with some other BJP leaders, faces a tough challenge to enter the assembly for the sixth time. Close on the heels of a BJP master stroke of inducting former Union minister and popular OBC leader RPN Singh to cover up for the loss, Maurya changed his constituency from Padrauna to Fazilnagar within the Kushinagar district. However, the poll battle may not be easy for him in Fazilnagar which was won by Ganga Singh Kushwaha of the BJP in 2017. According to estimates of political parties, the Fazilnagar assembly segment has around 90,000 Muslim voters, 55,000 Maurya Kushwahas, 50,000 Yadavs, 30,000 Brahmins, 40,000 Kurmi-Sainthwars, 30,000 Vaishyas and about 80,000 Dalits. The BSP has nominated Ilias Ansari for the seat and he threatens to split the votes of its electorally dominant community, taking the advantage away from the SP, which is banking on its traditional vote bank. Political experts think Maurya's chances rest on Muslim votes not getting split. With BJP nominee Surendra Singh Kushwaha being a fellow caste man and since RPN Singh could rally Kurmi-Sainthwars with him, Maurya's bet rests on how Yadavs and Muslims vote. The constituency will vote in the sixth round on March 3. Because of Maurya, political activities are at their peak in Fazilnagar, located about 20 km from Kushinagar. The 68-year-old politician resigned as the labour and employment minister in January, accusing the Uttar Pradesh government and the BJP of neglecting backward classes and Dalits. Local poll watchers think preventing Maurya's victory has now become a question of reputation for RPN Singh as he campaigns for the BJP across the district.

Kushinagar (UP): Influential OBC leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya, who recently switched over to the SP along with some other BJP leaders, faces a tough challenge to enter the assembly for the sixth time. Close on the heels of a BJP master stroke of inducting former Union minister and popular OBC leader RPN Singh to cover up for the loss, Maurya changed his constituency from Padrauna to Fazilnagar within the Kushinagar district. However, the poll battle may not be easy for him in Fazilnagar which was won by Ganga Singh Kushwaha of the BJP in 2017. According to estimates of political parties, the Fazilnagar assembly segment has around 90,000 Muslim voters, 55,000 Maurya Kushwahas, 50,000 Yadavs, 30,000 Brahmins, 40,000 Kurmi-Sainthwars, 30,000 Vaishyas and about 80,000 Dalits. The BSP has nominated Ilias Ansari for the seat and he threatens to split the votes of its electorally dominant community, taking the advantage away from the SP, which is banking on its traditional vote bank. Political experts think Maurya's chances rest on Muslim votes not getting split. With BJP nominee Surendra Singh Kushwaha being a fellow caste man and since RPN Singh could rally Kurmi-Sainthwars with him, Maurya's bet rests on how Yadavs and Muslims vote. The constituency will vote in the sixth round on March 3. Because of Maurya, political activities are at their peak in Fazilnagar, located about 20 km from Kushinagar. The 68-year-old politician resigned as the labour and employment minister in January, accusing the Uttar Pradesh government and the BJP of neglecting backward classes and Dalits. Local poll watchers think preventing Maurya's victory has now become a question of reputation for RPN Singh as he campaigns for the BJP across the district.

Kushinagar (UP): Influential OBC leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya, who recently switched over to the SP along with some other BJP leaders, faces a tough challenge to enter the assembly for the sixth time. Close on the heels of a BJP master stroke of inducting former Union minister and popular OBC leader RPN Singh to cover up for the loss, Maurya changed his constituency from Padrauna to Fazilnagar within the Kushinagar district. However, the poll battle may not be easy for him in Fazilnagar which was won by Ganga Singh Kushwaha of the BJP in 2017. According to estimates of political parties, the Fazilnagar assembly segment has around 90,000 Muslim voters, 55,000 Maurya Kushwahas, 50,000 Yadavs, 30,000 Brahmins, 40,000 Kurmi-Sainthwars, 30,000 Vaishyas and about 80,000 Dalits. The BSP has nominated Ilias Ansari for the seat and he threatens to split the votes of its electorally dominant community, taking the advantage away from the SP, which is banking on its traditional vote bank. Political experts think Maurya's chances rest on Muslim votes not getting split. With BJP nominee Surendra Singh Kushwaha being a fellow caste man and since RPN Singh could rally Kurmi-Sainthwars with him, Maurya's bet rests on how Yadavs and Muslims vote. The constituency will vote in the sixth round on March 3. Because of Maurya, political activities are at their peak in Fazilnagar, located about 20 km from Kushinagar. The 68-year-old politician resigned as the labour and employment minister in January, accusing the Uttar Pradesh government and the BJP of neglecting backward classes and Dalits. Local poll watchers think preventing Maurya's victory has now become a question of reputation for RPN Singh as he campaigns for the BJP across the district.