Fourth phase of Lok Sabha Elections in UP to test caste dynamics and BJP dominance

The constituencies in this phase include Shahjahanpur (SC), Kheri, Dhaurehra, Sitapur, Hardoi (SC), Misrikh (SC), Unnao, Farrukhabad, Etawah (SC), Kannauj, Kanpur, Akbarpur, and Bahraich (SC).

The Lok Sabha elections progress into their fourth phase, set to be held on May 13, encompassing 13 crucial constituencies. This phase will witness a litmus test for caste influence and the enduring appeal of the "Modi magic," presenting a formidable challenge for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to retain its stronghold on all 13 seats secured in the 2019 elections.

While the initial phases saw elections concentrated in the Jat and Yadav strongholds, the fourth phase presents a blend of both, with both the BJP and the Samajwadi Party (SP) vying for dominance.

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The constituencies in this phase include Shahjahanpur (SC), Kheri, Dhaurehra, Sitapur, Hardoi (SC), Misrikh (SC), Unnao, Farrukhabad, Etawah (SC), Kannauj, Kanpur, Akbarpur, and Bahraich (SC).

Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, Sitapur, Unnao, Etawah, and Bahraich hold significant Dalit voter populations. In the 2019 elections, riding on the Modi wave, the BJP swept all 13 seats in this phase, despite the SP-BSP alliance.

However, this election witnesses the BSP contesting independently, while the SP has formed a pre-poll alliance with the Congress.

The BJP faces the challenge of replicating its 2019 performance in this phase, while the SP aims to reclaim the prestigious Kannauj seat lost narrowly to the BJP in the previous election. Historically, the BSP has struggled to secure victories in several constituencies, including Shahjahanpur, Kheri, Hardoi, Farrukhabad, Kannauj, and Kanpur.

Constituency Highlights:

SHAHJAHANPUR (SC):

Shahjahanpur has witnessed a varied political landscape over the years. The BJP secured victories here in 1998, 2014, and 2019, while the Congress emerged triumphant twice in 1999 and 2004. The Samajwadi Party (SP) clinched this seat only once in 2009. In the last elections, the BJP's Arun Kumar Sagar claimed victory with 58.09 percent of the votes, defeating BSP's Amar Chand Jauhar, who was the joint candidate of the SP-BSP-RLD alliance. BJP has repeated Sagar while SP has fielded Rajesh Kashyap and BSP candidate is Daudram Verma.

KHERI:

Kheri has been a battleground for multiple parties. Since 1996, the BJP has won this seat four times, including consecutive victories in 2014 and 2019. On the other hand, the SP emerged victorious thrice, with the Congress securing a win in 2009. In 2019, BJP's Ajay Mishra Teni retained his seat, securing 53.62 percent of the votes, defeating SP's Purvi Verma. Despite the controversy surrounding his son's involvement in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case of 2021, Teni remains the BJP's candidate for the third time, challenged by SP's Utkarsh Verma.

DHAUREHRA:

Dhaurehra witnessed a competitive battle in the previous Lok Sabha election. BJP's Rekha Verma secured victory with 48.21 percent of the votes, defeating BSP's alliance candidate Arshad Siddiqi. Rekha Verma continues as the BJP's candidate, facing off against SP's Anand Bhadouria and BSP's Shyam Kishore Awasthi.

SITAPUR:

In Sitapur, BJP's Rajesh Verma emerged victorious in 2019, securing 48.3 percent of the votes. He defeated BSP's Nakul Dubey, with Congress securing a minor share of 9 percent votes. Rajesh Verma continues as the BJP's candidate, challenged by Congress's Rakesh Rathore.

HARDOI (SC):

Hardoi saw a decisive victory for the BJP in 2019 when Jai Prakash Rawat secured 53.71 percent of the votes, defeating SP's Shiv Prasad Verma. Both BJP and SP have fielded their previous candidates for the upcoming elections.

MISRIKH (SC):

A lesser-known constituency, Misrikh saw BJP's Ashok Rawat emerge victorious in 2019, defeating BSP's Neelu Satyarthi. The BJP continues with its sitting MP, facing a challenge from Manoj Kumar, SP candidate.

UNNAO:

Known as the "Land of Pen and Sword," the Etawah district commands attention due to its significant SC population. In 2019, BJP's Swami Sakshi Ji Maharaj secured a landslide victory, defeating SP's Arun Shankar Shukla. The BJP has nominated Swami Sakshi Ji Maharaj once again, while the SP and BSP have named Anu Tandon and Ashok K Pandey, respectively, highlighting the diversity of candidates in the electoral fray.

FARRUKHABAD:

Farrukhabad has been a battleground for various political parties. In 2019, BJP's Mukesh Rajput emerged victorious with 56.8 percent of the votes, defeating BSP's Manoj Agrawal. The BJP has retained its sitting MP, while the SP has fielded Naval Kishore Kashyap and the BSP has introduced Kranti Pandey, adding complexity to the electoral dynamics.

ETAWAH (SC):

Etawah, historically an SP bastion, has witnessed changing political landscapes. In 2019, BJP's Ram Shankar Katheria secured victory, defeating the SP's Kamlesh Kumar. The BJP has maintained its candidate for the upcoming election, while the SP and BSP have introduced Jitendra Dohare and Ram Singh Baghel, respectively, reflecting the competitive nature of electoral politics.

KANNAUJ:

The electoral landscape of Kannauj underwent a significant transformation in the 2019 elections. BJP's Subrat Pathak dismantled the SP's fort by defeating the then-sitting MP Dimple Yadav. The BJP has reiterated its support for Subrat Pathak, while the BSP has introduced a Muslim candidate, Imran Bin Zafar, adding a diverse dimension to the electoral contest. Akhilesh Yadav is an SP candidate.

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KANPUR:

Kanpur remains a pivotal constituency in Uttar Pradesh politics. In 2019, BJP's Satyadev Pachauri secured victory, defeating Congress' Sri Prakash Jaiswal. In the upcoming election, both the BJP and Congress have fielded Brahmin candidates, namely Ramesh Awasthi and Alok Mishra, respectively, while the BSP has nominated Kuldeep Bhadauriya, signaling a keenly contested electoral battle.

AKBARPUR:

Once a stronghold of the BSP, Akbarpur has witnessed shifting political allegiances over the years. In 2019, BJP's Devendra Bhole emerged victorious, defeating BSP's candidate Nisha Sachan. In the upcoming election, the BJP has maintained its candidate, while the SP has introduced Raja Ram Pal. The BSP has named a Brahmin candidate, Rajesh Kumar Dwivedi, further diversifying the electoral landscape.

BAHRAICH (SC):

Bahraich has seen a mix of political fortunes over the years. In 2019, BJP's Akshaibar Lal secured victory, defeating SP's Shabbir Valmiki. The BJP has introduced Anand Gond as its candidate for the upcoming election, while the SP has nominated Ramesh Gautam. The BSP has fielded a Professor at Lucknow University Brijesh Kumar Sonkar as its candidate.