Congress plants a Trojan Horse in BSP seat,all bets are off

In the by-election held after Pal’s expulsion in 2007,the BSP retained the seat with its candidate Anil Shukla Warsi inflicting a humiliating defeat on Pal who contested as an Independent. Now as a Congress candidate,Pal is giving Warsi a run for his money.

Initially,Pal faced stiff opposition from local Congress leaders. District Congress president Ganga Singh Bhadoria even sent his resignation to state president Rita Bahuguna Joshi. After the intervention of seniors leaders,the dispute was resolved.

The Congressmen,sniffing a victory for Pal,have come back to help his campaign. “We are fighting the election as a team. After a long gap of 25 years,the Congress is going to win this seat,” claimed Pal. It is the combination of Pal’s personal network,plus the Congress label,that has changed the game since the 2007 by-election.

Pal says he has been associated with Akbarpur for last 20 years. “Warsi came here only after he was given the BSP ticket. Nobody knows BJP candidate Arun Tiwari ‘Baba’ as he lives in Delhi. SP candidate Kamlesh Pathak,who is contesting from jail,has failed to make an impact.” Asked about the cash-for-query scam,he said,“I was not given time to prove my innocence.”

Warsi dismisses the excitement in the Congress. “After Pal’s involvement in the cash-for-query scam,people don’t trust him. The Congress is trying to revive itself,but the decision to field a tainted man will backfire,” he said.

The BSP candidate says he enjoys people’s goodwill because “I have been an MP for only 22 months,during which I have done my best to provide better facilities to the people.” He makes it a point to mention the recently built roads linking villages with towns.

Warsi’s non-controversial image has found him many supporters. Ghatampur resident Mahesh Prasad said Warsi had also remained in touch with voters.

Arun Tiwari ‘Baba’,who owns a copper wire factory in Noida,got the BJP ticket amid opposition from local leaders. Tiwari,who has been active in the Lok Sabha constituency for the last three years,said: “It’s my desire to serve the people who have brought me to Akbarpur.”

The fact that Tiwari is Delhi-based does not help. A remark often heard is that Shyam Bihari Mishra,the last BJP parliamentarian who was elected four consecutive times,did little for the constituency. In fact,it was this neglect that had led to the emergence of BSP in Akbarpur.

The SP candidate,Kamlesh Pathak,is cooling his heels in Pilibhit jail after being detained under the NSA for allegedly provoking violence in nearby Auraiya after the murder of PWD Executive Engineer Manoj Kumar Gupta in December last year. Even otherwise,Pathak has a long criminal record. Since the high court refused to release him parole,Pathak’s election is being managed by his brother Santosh.

“There is massive support for Pathak,as people feel he has been arrested for no reason,” claimed Santosh. SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav,Sanjay Dutt and Amar Singh have addressed public meetings in Pathak’s support. But,as Amit Mishra,a resident of Bidhnoo,says,“Not many people know Pathak. Then there is his criminal record.” Mishra feels the contest is between Pal and Warsi.

Of the 14.69 lakh voters of Akbarpur,the backwards constitute the biggest chunk at 50 per cent,followed by 3 lakh SCs,1.5 lakh Brahmins,1.25 lakh Thakurs and 1 lakh Muslims.

Of the five Assembly segments under Akbarpur Lok Sabha seat,both the SP and the BSP hold two each,while one is held by the BJP.

Elections 2009
100 constituencies
Where the key issues play

Candidates
* Raja Ram PaL,CONGRESS
* Anil Shukla Wasri,BSP
* Arun Tiwari Baba,BjP
* Kamlesh Pathak,SP

Back story
2007 Anil Shukla Warsi,BSP
2004 Raja Ram Pal,BSP
Since 1991 Shyam Bihari Mishra of BJP has been winning from here