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    BJP’s Virender Kumar retains edge despite public anger against him

    Synopsis

    However, unlike UP, where Yadavs and Jatavs seem to be coming together under the SP-BSP alliance, in Tikamgarh most of them appear to be backing the BJP.

    AgenciesAgencies
    Tikamgarh has eight assembly seats, out of which the BJP won four in 2018, Congress three and SP one.
    Tikamgarh: BJP’s Virender Kumar appears to retain the edge in Tikamgarh (Madhya Pradesh), which became a reserved Lok Sabha constituency after delimitation in 2008 and which he has won twice despite palpable public anger against him.

    “The sitting MP doesn’t come here and has done nothing. It is the good work of MLA Anil Jain and the country needs (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi,” said Gyan Yadav of Bahera village in Niwari. Standing with him, Rajendra Rai of the same village said that Modi should get another chance as PM. The Congress has fielded Kiran Ahirwar while the Samajwadi Party candidate is Ratiram Bansal. “It is traditionally a BJP seat and last time I won by more than two lakh votes,” Kumar told ET. Tikamgarh has eight assembly seats, out of which the BJP won four in 2018, Congress three and SP one.“In assembly elections we voted for the Congress as we wanted a change here. But in Lok sabha we don’t want a change,” said Shankar Kushwaha in Prithvipur market. Referring to the Niwari-Prithvipur Road which has been constructed in the past five years, he said, “It took more than an hour to cover this small distance between Niwari and Prithvipur. Thanks to Modi it takes only 15 minutes to commute via the newly constructed road. It has changed people’s life here.” Tikamgarh has around 1.55 million voters, with a sizeable population of Yadavs and Ahirwars. This is one reason SP has been fielding a candidate in the region. In Niwari, one of the assembly segements of Tikamgarh, the SP candidate stood second in 2018.

    However, unlike Uttar Pradesh, where Yadavs and Jatavs seem to be coming together under the SP-BSP alliance, in Tikamgarh most of them appear to be backing the BJP. “Modi ko vote denge (We’ll vote for Modi),” said Meherban Singh Yadav of Mania village in Prithvipur. “He is doing good work and needs another term.”

    Sunil Ahirwar, who runs a small shoe repair shop in Tikamgarh market, said: “Forget the local MP. This vote is for Modi.” Ashok Chadar of Lidaura village in Jatara voted for the Congress in the assembly election but said he was now willing to vote for Modi. “Congress is doing good work here. But Modi is important in Delhi.” “The main issue in this election is rashtravad (nationalism),” said sitting MP Virender Kumar. “People just love Modi ji and we will win this seat with a bigger margin than last time.” Asked about people’s anger against him, he said, “Ask people if there is one case of corruption against me. I have been staying and working in this region for the last ten years. It’s not a joke.” Congress candidate Kiran Ahirwar is focusing on development in her election speeches.


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