Influential OBC leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister Swami Prasad Maurya, who recently switched over to the SP along with some other BJP leaders, is leading quite comfortably in his constituency of Fazilnagar, mid-day trends showed.
Maurya was facing a tough challenge. Close on the heels of BJP inducting former Union minister and popular OBC leader RPN Singh, Maurya changed his constituency from Padrauna to Fazilnagar within the Kushinagar district. However, the poll battle may not be easy for him in Fazilnagar which was won by Ganga Singh Kushwaha of the BJP in 2017.
According to estimates of political parties, the Fazilnagar assembly segment has around 90,000 Muslim voters, 55,000 Maurya Kushwahas, 50,000 Yadavs, 30,000 Brahmins, 40,000 Kurmi-Sainthwars, 30,000 Vaishyas and about 80,000 Dalits.
The BSP has nominated Ilias Ansari for the seat and he threatens to split the votes of its electorally dominant community, taking the advantage away from the SP, which is banking on its traditional vote bank. Political experts think Maurya's chances rest on Muslim votes not getting split.
With BJP nominee Surendra Singh Kushwaha being a fellow caste man and since RPN Singh could rally Kurmi-Sainthwars with him, Maurya's bet rests on how Yadavs and Muslims vote.
