High-octane BJP, modest SP, and silent BSP in Muzaffarnagar

KAKRA (MUZAFFARNAGAR) : The election campaign in Muzaffarnagar constituency is a study of contrasts: of massive fanfare and simplicity.

Union minister and BJP candidate Sanjeev Balyan is striving for a third term and SP candidate Harendra Malik has taken up the gauntlet.

Meanwhile, making the contest for the seat a visibly triangular fight, BSP candidate Dara Singh Prajapati is also showing his presence. BJP candidate and union minister Sanjeev Balyan’s campaign from Sarv Khap Chaupal in village Soram of district Muzaffarnagar, was full of fanfare that included horse riders, bands, jeeps, cars, blaring songs, dance and colourful stage set by his followers, villagers and party workers. Arrangements for snacks and tea for mediapersons and guests had also been made.

BJP state president Bhupendra Choudhary, RLD MLA Rajpal Balyan, minister of state government Anil Kumar, and two former MLAs Umesh Malik and Yograj Singh were among many other dignitaries who shared the dais and delivered speeches, seeking votes.

Meanwhile, the situation seems to have turned difficult for BJP after growing resentment among Rajputs, who had held multiple panchayats to oppose the party. Voters of the Saini community are also annoyed with their ignorance.

In damage-control mode, chief minister Yogi Adityanath addressed a public rally on Wednesday, in Rajput-dominated Sardhana village of the Muzaffarnagar constituency and also in neighbouring constituencies of Kairana and Saharanpur.

A few kilometres away, Samajwadi Party candidate Harendra Malik was also campaigning in village Kukra to seek votes in his favour. He arrived in the village barely in two cars, held small meetings with a gathering of villagers and then walked through the village’s alleyways, meeting people and trying to appease those who were said to be annoyed. Two Dholwalas walked ahead and a youth was carrying a loudspeaker to magnify Malik’s words during his interaction with villagers in the meeting. BSP candidate Dara Singh Prajapati too silently arrived in villages and met those potential voters, including Dalits, Sainis, and Kashyaps, who could vote for him. For many of these voters, the symbol of ‘Haathi’ was sufficient to support Dara Singh.

In his brief speech, Harendra Malik said, “It’s a battle between Ahankar and Sanskar, and you need to choose this time.”

On the other hand, the BJP candidate talked about developmental work carried out in his two past terms. Surprisingly, Balyan didn’t mention Ram temple or any religious comments in his campaign. At the Sarv Khap Chuapal of Soram, he said, “I don’t beg or vote in the name of caste and religion but based on my work.” In speeches, BSP candidate Dara Singh raked up the issues of embarrassment and exploitation of lower caste people and appealed to them to get united for a better future.

The campaign is heating up ahead of polling on April 19 on this seat, but voters are keeping the candidates and parties guessing about their mood.