Bypoll around, Beni avoids visit to Sirathu ‘fearing massive defeat’

While the official reason cited is that Verma is indisposed, sources close to Verma said his refusal from his fear of an embarrasing defeat in the seat, which the party has not won in past three decades. Verma otherwise is learnt to be travelling between Lucknow and Barabanki (his home town).

Despite providing a slew of facilities in his Lok Sabha constituency, Gonda, Verma, who was Union Steel Minister, had lost his deposit on the seat in the recent election.

With just three days left for campaigning, the Congress cadre in Kaushambi is desperately looking for alternatives.

While Congress state president Nirmal Khatri visited the constituency Sunday, the district unit has requested that another senior leader should camp in the sear for the remaining three days.

“We do not know why but our incharge has not visited us and we have been informed that he would not come. While state president Nirmal Khatri came yesterday, we have requested him to send some other leader for the remaining three days. We have requested for AICC secretary Zubair Khan,” said Kaushambi district president Talat Azim.

Congress had last won the seat in 1985. The party has fielded Lal Chand Kushwaha, who had recently joined the party, as its candidate from Sirathu. The constituency has been a BSP stronghold.

While it was won by BJP’s Keshav Prasad Maurya in 2012, BSP has clinched the seat four times in the past. The seat was vacated by Maurya after he won the recent Lok Sabha elections.

Asked if he would be visiting the constituency in the next three days, Verma told The Indian Express, “I have been given only one assembly constituency (Sirathu) but I have communicated it to the party that I would not be able to visit it because of some health issues.”

Sources said he had travelled to Barabanki even on Monday, and is meeting people both in Lucknow and Barabanki.

Apart from Verma, another former Union Minister RPN Singh has not paid a visit to Bijnor Assembly constituency that he has been allotted. He was, however, scheduled to address his first public meeting there.

“As far as I am aware only one leader has not visited his respective constituency citing his health issues but we are making alternative arrangements,” said Nirmal Khatri.

Out of 11 Assembly constituencies going for byelection in Uttar Pradesh, Congress has not won seven of them in almost last three decades.

Apart from Sirathu, the party had last won Saharanpur, Bijnor, Lucknow-East, Nighasan and Hamirpur in 1985. Whereas Thakurdwara in Moradabad was last won by Congress candidate in 1980.

Congress candidates had come at fourth and fifth positions.