After having backed the BSP strongly in 2007, Barabanki appears to hint at a clear anti-incumbency undercurrent against the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh. The people on the ground indicate that Barabanki is set up for a tough triangular contest but at the same time suggest that they would have local factors in the mind while casting their votes.
The BSP, after having won five Assembly seats five years ago, is clearly being challenged by the Samajwadi Party and Congress, which is banking on the influence of two Union ministers — B.L. Puniya and Beni Prasad Verma — to do an encore of 2009 Lok Sabha elections. However, on the flip side Mr Puniya too appears to be facing anti-incumbency factor, as Brijesh Kumar Singh, sitting in a small market of Barabanki, says that the Union minister has not answered any of the promises he had made.
Though Barabanki city Assembly seat is represented by Ms Mayawati’s ministerial colleague Sangram Singh, the place is crying for development. “It’s so near Lucknow, but is far away from development. Sugar mills are closed. No means to generate employment have been added and even what the city had has been lost,” said Om Prakash, a resident of the area.
The anti-incumbency sentiment is matched equally in rural areas too.
In Barhail village, a woman over 70 years, Taiyaba Banu, rues that despite spending `800 in fulfilling formalities she is yet to get benefits of old age pension. Her husband Sagir Ahmed also laments that his family has not been able to get below poverty line card to claim subsidised foodgrains. The young in the village like Kalamuddin is angrier due to the fact that the better offs have got the BPL cards because they belong to Yadav and Ahir community.
“Neta logon helicopter se aahin haen...Maya aahin thi, Mulayam bhi aahin...lekin kuch hot naahin (politicians come in helicopters, but nothing happen for their benefits),” Mohammed Aseem puts in showing a sign of helplessness. In another village, Sukhlai, though names change the complaints remain the same.