Congress state president Ajay Rai.
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
Congress has increased the political stir by appointing in-charges and observers in all the 10 assembly constituencies where by-elections are being held. State President Ajay Rai himself has taken charge of the Majhawan assembly seat of Mirzapur, while political implications are being cited behind giving responsibility to Tauqeer Azam in Karhal. Although the state level leaders of Congress plead to leave the decision of alliance to the top leadership, but the eagerness to enter the electoral fray is clearly visible.
In the by-elections to be held in 10 assembly constituencies, Congress is claiming five seats (Majhawan, Ghaziabad, Phulpur, Khair and Meerapur), but no clear answer has been given by the SP yet. In such a situation, late on Wednesday evening, Congress deployed in-charges and observers on all 10 seats. Political stir has increased since Congress state president Ajay Rai himself took charge of the Majhawan seat.
It is also being speculated that Ajay Rai himself or a member of his family may contest from this seat after preparing political ground in Majhawan as in-charge. Because Majhawan assembly seat has been dominated by Congress and BSP. Congress has won from here eight times, BSP five times and BJP twice, while other parties have won the election once each. There are about 90 thousand Brahmins and 25 thousand Bhumihars here. There are about 60-60 thousand Dalits and Binds. This is the reason why former minister Sadal Prasad, who came to Congress from BSP, has been fielded as observer here.
Similarly, while Rajesh Tiwari has been made in-charge of Phulpur, MP Ujjwal Raman Singh has been given the responsibility of supervisor. Tauqeer Alam has been made in-charge of Karhal, while a strategy has been made to add Dalit vote bank by appointing PL Punia in Milkipur. Satyanarayan Patel has been appointed in Ambedkar Nagar’s Katehari considering the maximum Kurmi votes. Dheeraj Gurjar in Kundarki, MLA Virendra Chaudhary in Meerpur and Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra Mona in Ghaziabad have been given the responsibility. However, Congress state president Ajay Rai evades the question of contesting elections and alliance. He says that efforts are being made to increase the vote bank on all seats. The decision on alliance and candidate has to be taken by the top leadership.
