Though there has been no announcement about BJP's pick from Kaiserganj, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's statements about 'party strategy' hint that the party is waiting for Phase 2 of polling in Uttar Pradesh to get over.
This ties in with the fact that the influence of Jat voters in the state is limited to the first two phases. The female wrestlers protesting against the former Wrestling Federation of India chief are Jats. To announce Singh's candidature could lead to a possible ruffling of feathers. Ignoring Singh will damage the party not just in Kaiserganj but also in neighbouring constituencies. It bears mentioning that Singh has studied in Ayodhya and that is as far as his influence could work.
If Singh was not sure of the party's ticket, he would not be campaigning informally but vigorously. He has, as per sources, turned down offers for a member of his family to contest in his stead.
On Tuesday, Singh in an informal chat said that whoever the party's pick from the constituency is will win with at least a five lakh margin. In 1996 when Singh was in jail under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, his wife Ketki had fought in his stead from Gonda and polled 28,000 more votes than what her husband had in the previous election.
Singh said, "The party will announce it's ticket as per strategy. The party's decision shall be final in this regard". All he was willing to concede was that he is also 'one of the contenders' for the ticket.
When prodded about whether this candidate would be Singh himself, he only smiled but a gaggle of supporters around him shouted, “Yes, yes”.
"The party is sure that even if it announces a candidate from Kaiserganj a day before the polls (technically though on the last day of nominations), it will win," said Singh.
The only candidate who has that pulling power, thanks to a huge network of schools and colleges is Singh himself.
The BJP manifesto for this election has women as one of its focus populations. The guarantees include promotion of more women in sport. Electoral politics, however, cannot be beholden to promises.
