FROM THE GROUND ZERO: Agra Mathura Belt Stays With BJP

By K Ramachandra Murthy

Mathura (UP): Srikrisna Janam Bhoomi and the capital of King Kamsa is staying with Prime Minister Narendra Modi even in the ensuing assembly election.

People in this region voted for BJP in 2014 elections overwhelmingly cutting across caste and religion. A majority of the persons who spoke to this correspondent on Sunday at Agra and Mathura expressed their preference for the BJP. Even among auto drivers and daily wage earners, Modi enjoys enormous popularity. The businessmen totally endorse Modi.

There are 14 assembly seats in both the districts with Agra accounting for 9. In Agra city itself the BJP enjoys greater support than SP or BSP. The west of Taj Mahal is with UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav while the eastern part is solidly on the side of Modi. The eastern part is three times larger than the western side.

It is interesting to note that common people are discussing personalities instead of parties. It may be the result of election specialists working for the BJP, SP and the Congress. BSP has just entered the social media. But it depends largely on conventional mode of electioneering. The experts have been building up personalities and depending on catchy slogans instead of manifestos or party programmes. In terms of personality, Modi is far more popular in this belt than Akhilesh or Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

A student has complained that he voted for film star Hema Malini out of respect for Modi but she seldom visits Mathura. At th esame time, he pledged his support to Modi though the PM is not going to rule UP directly like Akhilesh or Mayawati. The BJP did not name its chief ministerial candidate for fear of creating frictions among caste groups basing on which the party has planned its strategy.

Views on demonetisation depend on which side the person is. Those who are supporting Modi claim that the move has done a great deal of good to the poor. They cannot give any examples but argue vehemently. Supporters of Akhilesh say that the move caused a lot of harm to the poor. They talk about long queues for months forcing the poor people to forego their daily earning.

Owaisi has pitched his tent in Western UP hoping to win in the constituencies which have sizeable Muslim voters. But observers say the MIM is going to benefit the BJP by splitting some Muslim votes. The extent of loss to the SP-Congress alliance would be directly proportional to the votes polled by MIM candidates. 'Owaisi is doing the same thing he did in Bihar,' said Zaria Ahmad of Saharanpur. The main fight, however, is going to be between the BJP and SP-Congress alliance as far as Western UP is concerned with the BJP having an edge.