Tough time for BJP in UP civic polls

Despite the fact that it had always been a smooth ride for the ruling party of the state in the municipal elections, the situation appears to be different in Uttar Pradesh in the forthcoming civic body polls.

There is anger among public against the BJP in the state of Uttar Pradesh and it is not limited to certain sections. The anger is not against the working of the state government, but it is against the Centre.

The president of the Moradabad Vyapar Mandal, Ajay Agarwal, says, “GST has ruined business. There is no customer in the market as cash is not in circulation. Without customers, how can a trader survive?” Senior journalist Faheem Khan narrates, “I was standing outside a shop when I got a phone call. The person who called me was asking about the civic body elections and I said it was a fight between the SP and the BJP. The shopkeeper, a diehard supporter of the BJP and Narendra Modi, told me after I ended my conversation on phone that BJP was nowhere. “Who will vote for the BJP, it has ruined our trade and our lives,” he said.

The trading community, traditionally a strong BJP support base, is angry with the BJP and the anger is spreading fast. There is a place called Dhanuara Mandi near Gajraula and the Vaish community there supports the BJP. But they are openly speaking out against the party.

Political commentators accept that there is anger against the BJP even among BJP supporters but this does not mean that they will come out and vote against the party. But surely the enthusiasm is missing, so they may not vote for any party. This only will help Samajwadi Party as the BSP is not in the picture because they don’t participate in civic body elections.

The Congress-SP alliance seems to have found takers in the aftermath of demonetisation and GST implementation. Mohd Asad of Amroha says, “Muslims have made up their minds to vote for the Congress in parliamentary elections and for the SP in civic body polls so as to not to split votes”.

Congress in-charge of western Uttar Pradesh and former MLA of Delhi, Naseeb Singh, is upbeat that “there is tremendous inclination towards the Congress and the main reason for this is the realisation by the people that Prime Minister only makes promises and is not delivering”.

In 76 districts of Uttar Pradesh, elections will be held for 16 municipal corporations, 202 municipal councils and 438 municipal panchayats on November 22, 26 and 29. If the anti-BJP votes do not get split, then the road ahead for the BJP is a very tough one. The anger against the BJP could be a blessing in disguise for the SP.