E-Paper
Campaigning hits peak in Ghazipur
WITH JUST three days left for the by-election of Mohammadabad legislative constituency in Ghazipur district of eastern UP, campaigning has reached its climax. The by-election is scheduled to be held on February 16. The seat had fallen vacant following the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai in Ghazipur on November 29 last year. The BJP has fielded Alka Rai, the widow of the slain MLA, as its candidate.
WITH JUST three days left for the by-election of Mohammadabad legislative constituency in Ghazipur district of eastern UP, campaigning has reached its climax. The by-election is scheduled to be held on February 16.
The seat had fallen vacant following the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai in Ghazipur on November 29 last year. The BJP has fielded Alka Rai, the widow of the slain MLA, as its candidate. The BSP has not fielded its candidate in favour of the BJP candidate, though the Congress and the Samajwadi Party have fielded their nominees.
Prominent leaders of BJP like Kalyan singh, Kalraj Mishra, leader of Janata Dal (United) and former Union Cabinet Minister Sharad Yadav and expelled leader of the BJP Uma Bharti have already addressed election meetings in support of Alka Rai.Irrigation Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav and UPCC chief Salman Khursheed have also addressed public meetings in favour of the SP and Congress candidates respectively. The Congress has fielded Keshav Ram as its candidate.
Following the decision of the BSP not to field its candidate in the election, the SP and the Congress are on their toes. As Dalit votes are presumed to be the deciding factor for winning the election, the SP, which had earlier considered a minority candidate, suddenly dropped the idea and fielded a Dalit candidate Gama Ram so that the Dalit electorate may not be influenced by the BJP.
It may be noted that after the murder of BJP MLA Krishnanand Rai, a delegation of some BSP MPs and MLAs had gone to his house in Mohammadabad and paid tributes to the slain MLA. The BSP had also demanded a CBI inquiry in connection with the murder.
The senior leaders of the BSP have been campaigning in the constituency to persuade the Dalit voters not to cast their votes in favour of the SP candidate. The BJP leaders, in their meetings, have been appreciating the BSP’s decision not to field its candidate in the election. Chief Minister Mulayam Singh and BJP Chief Rajnath Singh are also scheduled to campaign for their party candidates within two days .
Meanwhile, elaborate security arrangements are being ensured by the administration for the fair and peaceful conduct of the by-election. Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) along with civil police will be deployed at the polling centres.
The central security forces will also remain deployed in the villages to create a sense of security among the electorate. Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Acharya Palnivel reviewed the security arrangements with local officials and gave necessary instructions.
