UP Lok Sabha Election 2024
– Photo: Amar Ujala
Expansion
There was a direct contest between BJP and SP on Meerut-Hapur Lok Sabha seat. Issues remained prevalent in the elections, caste equations remained dominant. Muslims were inclined towards SP, while the rest were divided. Especially SP candidate Sunati Verma was seen making a dent in BSP’s vote bank.
Due to the entire contest being a one-on-one affair, BSP candidate Devvrat Tyagi appeared almost out of the contest, while candidates of other small parties neither had any interest nor were visible. There are a total of eight candidates in this Lok Sabha, including the three main candidates. While the BJP candidate got the support of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister, the SP candidate got the support of the SC-Muslim alliance.
There was not much interest among the voters for the BSP candidate from the beginning. Former Chief Minister Mayawati’s rally on April 23 and former cabinet minister Haji Yakub’s appeal also did not have much impact in the voting. Meerut-Hapur Lok Sabha seat has five assembly constituencies (City, South, Cantt, Kithore and Hapur).
In all these, Muslims rode bicycles, there was division among Dalits between SP and BSP. Some Dalits were seen riding bicycles and some elephants. In many areas, initially Dalits were seen riding elephants, but as the day progressed, their inclination towards bicycles was seen.