The high crime rate in the area has made people decide to teach a lesson to the ruling BSP but they have nowhere to go but support SP, whose graph in the matter is not very clean either. Dejected with the lawlessness and anarchy prevailing in the State and predominantly in Etah over the years, especially the traders’ community in the district has made up their mind to vote strategically to prevent the return of BSP in power.
Terming the enduring chaos as most unfortunate period in the history of the State politics, they said given the circumstances (as no party candidates is visibly fair or performer), they would have to opt for SP to oust present ruling party. Neeraj Kaushik, a businessman dealing in spare parts in Kasganj said corruption and disorder in administration had reached the extreme level in the State due to which the community had been suffering for years. “Several policies announced by the previous Government (Kalyan Singh) created favourable environment for traders. At that time hooliganism and extortion was uncommon but over the years especially in the present time, it is beyond Government’s control, it seems,” he said.
Kaushik said certainly, they would not like to see the present ruling party in power again. With the cost of fertilisers escalating and power situation hitting rock bottom, another section of the region—farmers and owners of powerloom also want to get rid of the fear, backwardness and extortion, which is at its peak. Chandarbhan Singh, working in powerloom of Patiyali said, “The entire day, there is no power supply and it is available only after 10 pm till four in the morning. Farmers and loom owners are worst affected. Patiyali is known for its powerloom but majority of them have been shut,” Singh said.
In the last election, BSP swept all four seats in the district which was considered to be a territory of Mulayam Singh Yadav and one seat —Etah was bagged by the BJP’s Prajapalan Verma. He is contesting the election this time too. Riding high on the anti-BSP wave and his previous successful track record, Verma may be seen in a close contest with Gajendra Singh Choudhan of BSP and SP’s candidate Ashish Yadav. However, the presence of Congress nominee Shishupal Singh Yadav cannot be ignored given the decent electorate population of Muslims and Yadavs. Shishupal was elected twice in 1996 and 2002 from the seat.
Patiyali, Marhara, Kasganj and Amanpur are other Assembly segments constituted in Etah parliamentary constituency which will go to polls on February 23.
The daughter of former Lok Sabha MP from Etah Devendra Singh Yadav, Vasu Yadav, is in the race from Patiyali on Congress’s ticket. Devendra was earlier elected twice to Lok Sabha on SP tickets. But when the SP decided to leave the seat for Kalyan Singh in last general election in 2009, he moved to Congress. Former Union Minister and member of prominent Shervani family of the district, Saleem Shervani facilitated his union with the party.
SP has also fielded a woman candidate — Najeeba Zeenat Khan and former MLA from Etah Suraj Singh Shakya has been given ticket by BSP after his departure from SP. With the two SP rebels—daughter of Devender and Shakya, the battle may take an interesting turn and the result might be surprising. Muslim vote is also divided especially Muslim Pathan’s, who are present in good numbers. Congress leader — Shervani is a Pathan and Najeeba is also of the same caste (Pathan) hence Muslim votes will be divided.
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