The sixth phase will seal the fate of chief minister Yogi Adityanath who is contesting from Gorakhpur. In 2017, BJP with its ally Apna Dal (S) and then ally Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) had secured 49 seats — 47 of these were won by the BJP. The SP had secured 3, BSP 4, Congress 1 with the one remaining being won by an independent candidate.
Apart from Brahmins and Thakurs, a host of different backward castes, especially Kurmis, Nishads and Rajbhars and scheduled castes like Khatiks and Dhobis, and Muslims, constitute the complex caste matrix of the seats which are going to polls under the phase. Accordingly, both the BJP and the SP have allied with small caste-based parties to expand their voter base in this phase and the next. The SBSP has allied with the SP this time.
Even as caste considerations intensify from this phase, the BJP has upped its nationalism pitch in its campaign to overcome caste hostilities, with PM Narendra Modi appealing to people to vote to make “India powerful”, above caste and trivial matters. He called the caste divide a bane gifted to the region by previous governments, which halted development.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, on the other hand, has been slamming the government for its alleged failure on the jobs front, and highlighted the government’s refusal to undertake a caste census.
Apart from Gorakhpur sadar from where CM Yogi is contesting, Fazilnagar in Kushinagar, from where Swami Prasad Maurya will be contesting will be a keen watch. Ambedkarnagar, a former BSP bastion which will see two of Mayawati’s trusted lieutenants — Lalji Verma and Ram Achal Rajbhar — contest on the SP symbol this time, will also be an interesting watch. SP’s leader of opposition in the assembly, Ram Govind Chaudhary will be contesting from Bansdih in Ballia.
