In Phulpur, Apna Dal makes it easy for BJP

The Apna Dal, led by Anurpiya Patel, is all set to make it easier for the BJP in the Phulpur Lok Sabha by-election, the date of which is yet to be announced.

The Phulpur by-election is to be held following the resignation of UP deputy chief minister Keshav Maurya who resigned last month after being elected to the UP Legislative Council.

The BJP is particularly concerned about retaining Phulpur in the byelection after talks of the opposition fielding a joint candidate against the ruling party.

The Apna Dal has chosen Phulpur to hold a rally on the death anniversary of its founder Dr Sonelal Patel on October 17.

Phulpur, the constituency held thrice by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, has a dominant Kurmi population in the OBC matrix and the Apna Dal is a Kurmi — based political outfit that has emerged as a force to reckon with in recent Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

The Kurmi community holds late Dr Sonelal Patel in high esteem and the strong emergence of the Apna Dal on the political horizon in recent years proves it.

The BJP is now evidently using the Apna Dal to consolidate its position among OBC, Kurmis in particular, before the Lok Sabha byelection.

The ‘Shraddhanjali Sabha’ on October 17 will be a show of strength of the BJPApna Dal alliance and is also being seen as the beginning of the by-election campaign in the constituency.

BJP and Apna Dal MLAs have also been directed to ensure a sizeable crowd.