'Berozgari', cattle menace: Why discontent is rising in Western Uttar Pradesh

Across rural communities like Baghpat, farmers face their own set of challenges.

As the political climate heats up in the eight constituencies of Western Uttar Pradesh that will go to polls on April 26, a sense of discontentment pervades the region, driven primarily by concerns over unemployment and agricultural hardships including menace of stray cattle and cane dues.

Polling will be held in Amroha, Meerut, Mathura, Baghpat, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar and Bulandshahar.

From the bustling streets of Meerut to the tranquil fields of Baghpat, residents express frustration and disillusionment, signalling growing dis-enchantment with the political system.

The Jat land also known as the fertile land to recruit "Jawans" for Indian army, the Agniveer scheme is a topic of discussion, besides lack of government jobs and the menace of stray cattle remain the focal point of discussion. Oblivious of their political affiliation the people of these constituencies say they have more problems in hand and political parties have no solution.

In Meerut, Mahinder Chaudhry, a 22-year-old student, voices his dismay over the police recruitment scandal. "I spent two years preparing for police recruitment, only to have my hopes dashed by a leaked paper," he laments. "Now, I'm uncertain about my future prospects."

Similarly, Sudhir Sangwan shares his disappointment, stating, "The job in army promised an alternative pathway, but the short-term Agniveer scheme has taken the sheen out of this government job,”

Across rural communities like Baghpat, farmers face their own set of challenges. Mudassar Ali, a farmer, highlights the issue of stray animal intrusion. "Nearly two bighas of my land have been destroyed," he says. "Without assistance, we're left to bear the losses."

Political analysts warn of potential repercussions for the ruling BJP, particularly in constituencies like Baghpat and Meerut, where narrow victory margins underscore the volatility of the electorate.

Dr S K Pundir, a professor in a local degree college says unemployment and agricultural distress are significant issues that cannot be ignored. Addressing these concerns will be crucial for parties seeking electoral success.

The discontent in Western Uttar Pradesh has not gone unnoticed by the ruling BJP, which faces the risk of losing support in key constituencies like Baghpat and Meerut. In the 2019 elections, BJP secured victory in these areas by narrow margins, of led than 0.5% of polled votes highlighting the fragility of its electoral stronghold in the region.

A local journalist Srihari Asthana says: "The BJP's margin of victory in these areas is slim, and any shift in voter sentiment could tip the scales in favor of the opposition,"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Ghaziabad and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's address in Meerut aimed to assuage voter concerns. However, critics argue that mere rhetoric may not suffice in addressing the underlying issues of unemployment and agricultural distress.

"The BJP's electoral narrative has centered around development and Hindutva by raising the issue of Mathura, Muslim and teen Talaq, but the ground reality tells a different story," says Dr Pundir. "The discontent among youth and farmers could translate into electoral losses for the party if not addressed effectively."

Asthana echoes similar sentiments, emphasising the need for political parties to connect with voters on a grassroots level. "The electorate is disillusioned with empty promises and seeks tangible solutions to their problems," he says. "Political parties must demonstrate a genuine commitment to addressing these issues if they wish to retain or gain voter confidence."

As the elections approach, all eyes are on eight seats of Western Uttar Pradesh, where the resolution of pressing issues like unemployment and agricultural distress including non-payment of cane dues and stray cattle will play a pivotal role in shaping the outcome and determining the future trajectory of the region.

Candidates in fray

Amroha: Kanwar Singh Tanwar (BJP), Danish Ali (Congress) and Mujaihid Husain (BSP)

Meerut: Arun Govil (BJP), Sunita Verma (SP), Devvrat Tyagi (BSP)

Mathura: Hema Malini (BJP), Mukesh Dhangar (Congress), Suresh Singh (BSP)

Baghpat: Rajkumar Sangwan (RLD), Amarpal Sharma, (SP), Praveen Bansal (BSP)

Aligarh: Satish Kumar Gautam (BJ), Bijendra Singh (SP), Hitendra Kumar alias Bunty Upadhaya (BSP)

Ghaziabad: Atul Garg (BJP), Dolly Sharma (Congress), Nand Kishore Pundir (BSP)

Gautam Buddha Nagar: Dr Mahesh Sharma (BJP), Mahendra Nagar (SP), Rajendra Solanki (BSP)

Bulandshahr: Bhola Singh (BJP), Shivram Valmiki (SP). Girish Chandra Jatav (BSP)