 "Phulpur heading for engrossing four-cornered contest")
An engrossing four-cornered contest appears to be on the cards in Phulpur Lok Sabha constituency, which Congress seeks to reclaim after 25 years, BJP hopes to win for the first time, BSP wants to retain and Samajwadi Party aims at wresting back.
From nationwide fame earned on account of Jawaharlal Nehru fighting from here during his lifetime to the infamy caused by victory of mafia don-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed in the recent past, this Lok Sabha seat has seen it all.
The choice of candidates and the factors at play promise an exciting battle this time even though none of the contestants enjoys Nehru's stature or Ahmed's lack of it.
Congress has surprised all by fielding former Test cricketer Mohd Kaif from the seat, apparently with an eye on the sizeable Muslim electorate.
The party also appears to be banking on Kaif's ability to connect with young urban voters whose proportion in the constituency has risen sharply after the latest delimitation.
A majority of the voters of the city have, after delimitation, become voters of Phulpur, which earlier comprised only the sprawling and populous trans-Ganga region of Allahabad district.
BJP has placed its trust in Keshav Prasad Maurya, an OBC leader who is a sitting MLA from Sirathu in the neighbouring district of Kaushambi.
Maurya trumped many aspirants, including former national spokesman Siddharth Nath Singh, who had camped in the city for many months making efforts to build his base in the constituency.
The candidature of Maurya was announced rather late, mainly on account of the long-drawn affair that an electoral understanding with regional party Apna Dal turned out to be.
Apna Dal enjoys a good following among the Kurmis and Patels, who are said to be the largest caste group in the constituency.
From nationwide fame earned on account of Jawaharlal Nehru fighting from here during his lifetime to the infamy caused by victory of mafia don-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed in the recent past, this Lok Sabha seat has seen it all.
The choice of candidates and the factors at play promise an exciting battle this time even though none of the contestants enjoys Nehru's stature or Ahmed's lack of it.
Congress has surprised all by fielding former Test cricketer Mohd Kaif from the seat, apparently with an eye on the sizeable Muslim electorate.
The party also appears to be banking on Kaif's ability to connect with young urban voters whose proportion in the constituency has risen sharply after the latest delimitation.
A majority of the voters of the city have, after delimitation, become voters of Phulpur, which earlier comprised only the sprawling and populous trans-Ganga region of Allahabad district.
BJP has placed its trust in Keshav Prasad Maurya, an OBC leader who is a sitting MLA from Sirathu in the neighbouring district of Kaushambi.
Maurya trumped many aspirants, including former national spokesman Siddharth Nath Singh, who had camped in the city for many months making efforts to build his base in the constituency.
The candidature of Maurya was announced rather late, mainly on account of the long-drawn affair that an electoral understanding with regional party Apna Dal turned out to be.
Apna Dal enjoys a good following among the Kurmis and Patels, who are said to be the largest caste group in the constituency.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
SAVE 25%
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Subscribe
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
SAVE 25%