BJP's fortunes in Rae Bareli elections clouded by MLA Aditi Singh's silence

Rae Bareli MLA Aditi Singh (L) and BJP candidate Dinesh Pratap Singh

Rae Bareli is known as a bastion for Congress and the party has fielded Rahul Gandhi as its candidate to retain its stranglehold over it. This place holds equal significance for BJP and the contest here has become a litmus test for the party. Minister of state Dinesh Singh is a BJP candidate and is contesting for the second time from this constituency. Yet political circles are buzzing with unease due to the conspicuous absence of BJP's Rae Bareli Sadar MLA, Aditi Singh, from the electoral fray giving the party’s election campaign a body blow.

In 2019, Congress had won only one seat in UP and that was Rae Bareli. Last time, the BJP won Amethi and this time it had plans to free Rae Bareli from the clutches of Gandhi Parivar and the Congress.

As a strategy, BJP first included Congress MLA Aditi Singh in the party fold. She contested and won the 2022 assembly elections on a BJP ticket, and was seen as a crucial asset for the BJP's electoral prospects.

Furthermore, in a political coup in December, the BJP secured the allegiance of Manoj Pandey, a former SP MLA, who defected to BJP and supported the party's candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections. Pandey, hailing from Unchchar in Rae Bareli, added to BJP's electoral arsenal. With two sitting MLAs from Rae Bareli in its fold, BJP harbored hopes of a victory. However, both Singh and Pandey have maintained an unexpected silence, presenting a formidable challenge for BJP's electoral ambitions in the region.

Aditi Singh wields significant political influence in the Sadar Assembly, making her a crucial asset for BJP. The party's strategists, express concerns over her withdrawal from the electoral scene. Aditi Singh's recent social media post, "No compromise with principles," has stirred speculation within political circles, amplifying the mystery surrounding her silence. Although she attended home minister Amit Shah's election rally alongside her mother Vaishali Singh, on Sunday, her reticence remained palpable.

Amid SP's dominance in four out of six assemblies in the district, Aditi Singh's BJP affiliation has upheld its stronghold in the pivotal Sadar seat. In the electoral dynamics of the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha battle, the Sadar Assembly holds immense significance, traditionally favoring Congress. BJP strategists are keen on leveraging Aditi Singh's influence to tip the scales, but her silence poses a dilemma.

Union home minister Amit Shah attempted to reconcile the discord between disgruntled lawmakers. Visiting Manoj Pandey's residence alongside Dinesh Singh, Shah projected a unified front. However, Aditi Singh was notably absent from this meeting.

Later in the day, during the BJP's public gathering at GIC grounds, Aditi Singh's presence was observed, albeit with a subdued reception from party officials. Despite sharing the stage with other leaders, she refrained from addressing the crowd, prompting speculation. Nevertheless, Home Minister Amit Shah's recognition of her attendance highlighted her significance within the party hierarchy, suggesting her enduring influence despite her reticence.

Apparently, the selection of Dinesh Pratap Singh as the BJP candidate has left many party leaders disgruntled. According to sources, deputy CM Brajesh Pathak was entrusted with the task of bolstering the local BJP organization in Rae Bareli. Despite making multiple visits to the region, the internal discord among BJP leaders persists unabated.

Insiders in the party say that Aditi Singh did not like the candidature of Dinesh Singh as party nominee from Rae Bareli. There is a history between the two families. When Aditi’s father Akhilesh Singh used to contest from Rae Bareli Sadar, Dinesh Singh opposed him. Since then both the families are running a feud, which has taken a personal turn.

This justifies the Aditi’s post on social media X which said “No compromise with principles”.

BJP candidate Dinesh Pratap’s son Piyush Pratap Singh responded to Aditi’s social media post, stating: “You will secure respect by working hard and that way you will be successful too.”

As the electoral battle intensifies in Rae Bareli, Aditi Singh's silence casts a shadow over BJP's strategy, leaving room for uncertainty.