This story is from February 9, 2022

Uttar Pradesh elections: Saffron camp gets a taste of 'Baghi Ballia'

Firebrand MLA from Bairia Surendra Singh, who kept kicking up controversies apart from locking horns with party MP Virendra Singh Mast, has made it tough for the party after announcing to contest as an independent candidate after he was replaced by UP minister Anand Swaroop Shukla.
Uttar Pradesh elections: Saffron camp gets a taste of 'Baghi Ballia'
BALLIA: In ‘Baghi’ Ballia, rebels are threating to queer the pitch for BJP candidates. From Bairia to Phephna, the story is the same.
Firebrand MLA from Bairia Surendra Singh, who kept kicking up controversies apart from locking horns with party MP Virendra Singh Mast, has made it tough for the party after announcing to contest as an independent candidate after he was replaced by UP minister Anand Swaroop Shukla.

An MLA from Sadar, Shukla has been shifted to accommodate state vice-president Dayashankar Singh. However, Samajwadi Party’s decision of fielding former minister Narad Rai from Sadar prepared grounds for a tough contest here too. Interestingly, the return of Ketaki Singh has brought respite for BJP at Bansdih seat.
Though Ballia district houses seven assembly seats including Rasra, Belthra Road (reserved) and Sikandarpur, all eyes are on Bairia, Sadar, Bansdih and Phephna, courtesy rebels.
When BJP announced its list for Bairia and Sadar on February 6, Surendra’s name was missing from it. On being contacted by TOI, Surendra said, “Local BJP MP is responsible for denial of ticket to me as I had foiled his land-grabbing bid. But, I will file a nomination on February 11 to contest as an independent candidate from Bairia.”
Regarding Surendra’s claims, Mast said, “He is free to say anything but it is a fact that tickets are finalized by the parliamentary board of party.” About Surendra’s decision, Shukla claimed that he was not aware of it. He said that there would be no problem in contesting from Bairia instead of Sadar.

Replacing Shukla by Dayashankar at Sadar was also surprising for many. People discussing poll issues at a tea kiosk in Shivpur Diyar termed the choice of Dayashankar on this seat by replacing Shukla as unexpected. A local, Ravindra Pal said, “By fielding Narad Rai on its ticket following announcement of Dayashankar’s candidate from BJP, the SP has prepared grounds for a tough battle as after losing the 2017 election on BSP ticket, Rai had been working hard.”
At Phephna, where UP minister Upendra Tiwari is in fray, one Avalesh Singh turned rebel alleging that for the past 15 years he was being assured by BJP it will field him either in assembly or parliamentary elections, but he was cheated again. He said he will contest from Janata Dal (United), BJP’s alliance partner in Bihar.
Though new rebellions are emerging, BJP got some relief at Bansdih seat where Ketaki Singh, who had contested as rebel candidate in 2017 and lost against SP’s stalwart and Leader of Opposition in state assembly Ram Govind Chawdhary by a margin of 1,687, is going to contest on its symbol. She said, “I had returned to BJP before the 2019 parliamentary election and am being fielded from Bansdih, which is in the quota of alliance partner Nishad Party.” She is confident that she will win with a huge margin.
However, former chairman of Revati Nagar panchayat, Kanak Pandey, who was in queue for BJP ticket, alleged that as he was being cheated by the party repeatedly and that he would also file his nomination.
Ballia earned the sobriquet of Baghi (rebel) after the local freedom fighters, led by Chitto Pandey, unfurled the Tricolour and declared Independence from the British Rule in 1942 itself.
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