High-Profile Battles: UP CM Yogi rallies for Smriti Irani and Dinesh Pratap Singh in Amethi and Rae Bareli
By Our Correspondent
Lucknow, May 18: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath’s relentless campaign for the NDA candidates to grab all the 80 Lok Sabha seats of Uttar Pradesh, braving the sweltering heat might prove to be a game-changer for the BJP in the ongoing elections. Despite the scorching weather, CM Yogi’s dynamic campaigning both within the state and beyond is expected to mirror the party’s previous success in the fifth phase.
During the last Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party clinched an impressive 13 out of 14 seats in Uttar Pradesh, with the remaining seat, Rae Bareli, falling to the Congress. This time around, CM Yogi has left no stone unturned in his efforts, vigorously campaigning across all 14 constituencies with high hopes of securing victory, even in traditionally competitive areas like Amethi and Rae Bareli.
The fifth phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh encompasses 14 crucial Lok Sabha seats, including Mohanlalganj, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Amethi, Jalaun, Jhansi, Hamirpur, Banda, Fatehpur, Kaushambi, Barabanki, Faizabad, Kaiserganj, and Gonda. CM Yogi’s tireless campaigning has fostered a pro-BJP sentiment across these constituencies, setting the stage for what could be another significant electoral triumph.
Rajnath Singh poised for victory in Lucknow
The Defence Minister of the country, Rajnath Singh, is once again vying for the Lucknow Lok Sabha seat, marking his third consecutive bid for the position. This stronghold has been under the Bharatiya Janata Party’s control since 1991, with illustrious leaders such as former Prime Minister Atal Vihari Vajpayee and Lal Ji Tandon representing it over the years.
Having secured resounding victories in both the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rajnath Singh stands as a formidable contender yet again. The Samajwadi Party has nominated Ravidas Mehrotra, who currently serves as an MLA from Lucknow Central Assembly constituency, to challenge Singh. Meanwhile, the Bahujan Samaj Party has put forward Sarwar Malik as its candidate.
Campaigning vigorously for three consecutive days in Lucknow, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has lent considerable support to Rajnath Singh’s candidacy. As the election unfolds, the contest for this seat appears heavily tilted in favor of Singh, indicating a seemingly one-sided outcome in his support.
Dinesh Pratap Singh poses a formidable challenge in Rae Bareli
Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat holds a prominent position among the electoral hotspots of Uttar Pradesh, being the sole constituency where the Congress emerged victorious in 2019. It was during that election that Sonia Gandhi secured her seat in the Lok Sabha from this region. However, Sonia Gandhi has since transitioned to the Rajya Sabha. After a considerable hiatus, the Congress has nominated Rahul Gandhi to contest from Rae Bareli in the upcoming elections.
In response, the BJP has put forth Dinesh Pratap Singh as its candidate. Dinesh Pratap Singh, a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) and currently serving as a minister in the Yogi government, brings a formidable presence to the race. Significant transformations have occurred since the last election, with the Yogi government spearheading developmental initiatives across the state, including Rae Bareli.
Moreover, Dinesh Pratap Singh enjoys considerable influence among local village heads, further bolstering his candidacy. Adding to the BJP’s momentum, several prominent Congress leaders from Rae Bareli have crossed party lines to join BJP ranks. Aditi Singh, daughter of former Congress leader Akhilesh Kumar Singh, now serves as a BJP MLA from Rae Bareli. Additionally, Unchahar MLA Manoj Pandey’s defection to the BJP has significantly enhanced the party’s prospects in the region.
Smriti Irani holds firm ground in Amethi
The Amethi Lok Sabha seat remains a pivotal battleground, with Union Minister and incumbent MP Smriti Irani once again leading the charge on the BJP ticket. In a last-minute nomination, Congress put forward KL Sharma, known for his close ties to the Gandhi family, as its candidate, while the BSP has nominated Nanhe Singh Chauhan.
In the 2019 elections, BJP’s Smriti Irani delivered a resounding defeat to Rahul Gandhi, marking a historic shift as, for the first time in four decades, no member of the Gandhi family contested from Amethi. This victory, orchestrated under the leadership of CM Yogi Adityanath, solidified BJP’s foothold in the region. In the 2017 assembly elections, the BJP won all 4 assembly seats except Gauriganj, while in 2022 also BJP was successful in winning three seats. CM Yogi’s repeated rallies in the constituency have further bolstered BJP’s prospects, instilling confidence in supporters that the party will once again emerge victorious from Amethi.
These seats will also be closely monitored
In Kaiserganj, the BJP has fielded Karan Bhushan Singh, son of the current MP and former president of the Indian Wrestling Federation, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. He faces competition from SP’s Bhagat Ram Mishra and BSP’s Narendra Pandey. With his strong family legacy, Karan Bhushan Singh holds a considerable advantage over his opponents in this contest.
In Jhansi, BJP’s incumbent MP Anurag Sharma seeks re-election, confronted by Congress’s Pradeep Jain Aditya and BSP’s Ravi Prakash Maurya.
Meanwhile, in Mohanlalganj, Union Minister Kaushal Kishore is running for the third time from the Lok Sabha constituency. He faces challenges from SP’s RK Chaudhary and BSP’s Rajesh Kumar.
Similarly, in Banda, sitting BJP MP RK Singh Patel is vying for re-election, facing challenges from SP’s Krishna Devi Patel and BSP’s Mayank Dwivedi.
