BJP candidate loses to BSP in PM Modi’s adopted village

In another setback to the BJP, BSP-backed candidate Ramesh Tewari ‘Guddu’ won the post of zila panchayat member, defeating the saffron party’s Arun Singh ‘Rinku’ in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s adopted village Jayapur.

In another setback to the BJP, BSP-backed candidate Ramesh Tewari ‘Guddu’ won the post of zila panchayat member, defeating the saffron party’s Arun Singh ‘Rinku’ in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s adopted village Jayapur.

In this file photo, villagers make a rangoli to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Jayapur. (Ashok Dutta/HT File Photo)

Although sources confirmed Guddu’s victory, the exact number of votes by which he defeated his rivals was yet to be announced. According to locals, Rinku, a resident of Kanakpur in sector 5, lost because he was a first-timer and also had a pending criminal case against him.

Analysing the overall situation in the region, local BJP leader Shiv Shankar Singh ‘Khiladi’ said: “BJP performed well in Jayapur. However, the party couldn’t do well at other polling booths under sector number 5.”

“Brahmins supported Tewari because of his amicable nature. He also received votes from the Patel community. Besides, the BSP also voted for him ensuring his victory.” Tewari contested the panchayat polls for the post of zila panchayat five years ago, too, but lost.

Taking a dig at the BJP Congress MLA Laliteshpati Tripathi said: “Upset with the party’s false promise of carrying out development work Jayapur voted against the BJP in these polls.”