Political tensions in Raebareli escalated sharply after BJP MLA Aditi Singh’s warning to rivals went viral, highlighting deep divisions within the party’s local unit. The controversy unfolded during an anti-encroachment drive on September 20, when street vendors alleged that officials were extorting bribes from them. Singh, the lone BJP MLA in the Congress stronghold, visited the site to support the protesting vendors and confronted those allegedly threatening traders and journalists.
"This is my city. If someone threatens vendors or journalists, says they will hit them five times with shoes, we will hit them ten times," Singh is heard saying in the video. She pointed to alleged harassment by municipal officials and unnamed former representatives, adding that she would lodge an FIR against officials accused of extortion.
Party sources indicated that Singh's remarks were aimed at former MLA Rakesh Singh, whose brother Horticulture Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh is seen as her chief rival in Raebareli. Rakesh Singh had recently posted on social media warning those trying to tarnish his family's image, intensifying the personal and factional dispute.
District officials maintained that the anti-encroachment drive was intended to ensure proper traffic flow. However, vendors and traders described repeated targeting for bribes. Singh countered that vendors could not be removed without proper rehabilitation or alternative arrangements and condemned threats made against locals and journalists as unacceptable and unparliamentary.
Observers note that the rivalry between Aditi and the Singh family (Rakesh, Dinesh Pratap's) has a long history. Singh, who switched from Congress to BJP in 2021, wields significant influence in the Sadar Assembly and is considered a crucial asset for BJP’s electoral prospects in Raebareli. Her outspoken stance has brought factional discord into the public eye, especially following the selection of Dinesh Pratap Singh as BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate.
Insiders trace the feud back decades, beginning when Aditi Singh’s father, Akhilesh Singh, contested against Dinesh Singh in local elections. The rivalry has since taken on a personal tone, with successive political battles intensifying mistrust between the two families. The tensions reflect not just electoral competition but also longstanding family dynamics intertwined with local politics.
Senior party officials have tried to present a united front, but the viral warning and public exchanges suggest internal disagreements persist. The episode has provided opposition parties with fresh ammunition and left the BJP’s Raebareli unit facing uncertainty over cohesion and internal discipline. Local political analysts say the incident underscores how personal rivalries within parties can influence public perception and impact election strategies in politically sensitive regions.
As the BJP prepares for upcoming assembly polls in 2027, Aditi Singh’s assertive approach and the continuing family feud will likely remain a focal point in Raebareli politics, testing the party’s ability to manage internal conflicts while maintaining its public image.
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