E-Paper
UP polls: Smaller alliances take on big parties in eastern constituencies for final phase
The Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha and the United Democratic Alliance are two such formations that aimed to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Congress in the final phase of the UP polls
Two alliances of smaller parties — the Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha and the United Democratic Alliances —mobilised their cadre for the seventh phase of the UP polls in Azamgarh, Mau, Jaunpur and Ghazipur districts. Polling for this phase, the final one, will take place on Monday.
These smaller alliances aimed to take on the big parties — the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Congress.
The Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha was launched by All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, the Jan Adhikar Party led by Babu Singh Kushwaha and Bharat Mukti Morcha headed by Vaman Meshram. The Morcha campaigned extensively for its candidates in Azamgarh, Mau, Ghazipur and Jaunpur districts.
The United Democratic Alliance worked to widen its support base among the Muslim and Dalit voters in East UP.
Peace Party chief Mohammad Ayub, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad and Rashtriya Ulama Council led by Maulana Aamir Rashadi had launched United Democratic Alliance.
The parties belonging to the Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha and United Democratic Alliance failed to open their account in the 2017 assembly election. They tried to depend on SP and BSP rebels, besides the influence of its local leaders.
The Muslim and Dalit votes are expected to be decisive in the assembly constituencies of Azamgarh, Mau, Ghazipur and Jaunpur districts. Traditionally, these constituencies were SP and BSP strongholds.
In the 2017 assembly election, the SP bagged five seats in Azamgarh, the BSP four seats and the BJP won one.
In Mau district, the BJP won three of the four seats in 2017 and the BSP bagged one in 2017.
In Jaunpur district, the BJP and its allies bagged five of the nine seats. The SP won three seats and the BSP one seat in 2017.
In Ghazipur district, too, the BJP and its allies won five of the nine seats and the SP won two seats in 2017.
In 2019, the SP won the Azamgarh Lok Sabha seat and the BSP bagged Ghazipur, Jaunpur and Ghosi seats.
During the poll campaign, Owaisi raised the issue of Muslims’ share in government as well as the need for Muslim leadership in Uttar Pradesh to fight for the community’s rights.
He addressed a series of Shoshit- Vanchit Samaj conferences in East UP to try and make inroads into the Dalit and backward support base of the SP and the BSP.
He also highlighted the poor socio- economic condition of Muslims and Dalits in Uttar Pradesh.
United Democratic Alliance leaders Mohammad Ayub and Maulana Rashadi also raised the issue of the “poor condition” of Muslims.
Both the leaders said the Sachar Committee report had highlighted backwardness among the Muslims. They alleged the secular parties failed to give a share to Muslims in power. The United Democratic Alliance demanded justice for the Muslim community in the assembly election campaign.
Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha depended on the influence of BSP rebel and sitting MLA Shah Alam alias Guddu Jamaili, who is contesting on the AIMIM ticket from Mubarakpur seat in Azamgarh district. The AIMIM fielded Abdullah from Gopalpur seat, Qamar Alam from Azamgarh Sadar, Abdur Rehman Ansari from Nizamabad, Javed from Didadrganj and Karamvir Azad from Mehnagar.
The United Democratic Alliance focused on the Didarganj seat, where Hufaiza Aamir, son of RUC chief Maulana Rashadi, is in the fray. Peace Party chief Mohammad Ayub and Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad addressed public meetings and organised roadshows in support of Hufaiza.
Caption: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi addressed a Bhagidari Parivartan Morcha rally in Jaunpur on Friday.
