Barabanki is one of the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. Currently, Barabanki LS consists of assembly segments of Kursi (BJP), Ram Nagar (SP), Barabanki (SP), Zaidpur (SP) and Hydargarh (BJP). Voting for the Barabanki Lok Sabha seat will be held on May 20 in the fifth general election. Votes will be counted on June 4th.
2019 Results and 2024 Candidates
The current MP from Barabanki is Upendra Singh Rawat of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Rawat won with a margin of over 100,000 votes.
The frontrunners for the 2024 polls in Barabanki are Rajrani Rawat of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Tanuj Punia of the Congress.
political dynamics
BJP faces revival SP challenge
The BJP’s election campaign got off to a tough start in Barabanki. The saffron party had initially fielded Upendra Singh Rawat, but was forced to replace him due to the storm that erupted after an obscene video of the candidate was leaked online. The BJP has appointed Rajrani Rawat, who is seeking a third consecutive term in the seat, to replace Upendra Rawat.
The BJP faces a serious Samajwadi challenge in Barabanki as Akhilesh Yadav’s party has been on the rise in recent years. For example, in the 2022 assembly elections, the SP was able to win in three of the assembly segments falling under Barabanki LS, while the BJP could win only two. The SP was also able to register victories in some segments of the Congress in local elections. While this uplift energized the Samajwadi cadre, it was of great concern to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
While the SP-Congress alliance is fighting hard to oust the BJP from Barabanki, the saffron party has a number of problems of its own to deal with. Chief among them is the intense sectarianism witnessed in the local Bharatiya Janata Party units. Following the exclusion of Upendra Rawat as a candidate, some factions have voiced opposition to Rajrani Rawat’s candidature. Ground intelligence also indicates that sections of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s own faction are working to ensure Rajrani’s defeat.
Local information also reveals that the ‘Modi magic’ has subsided in Barabanki. The enthusiasm voters felt for Prime Minister Modi in the last election is nowhere to be seen on the same scale. Importantly, this should not be interpreted as an expression of disillusionment or anger. It is said that the Prime Minister and the Bharatiya Janata Party are silent on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s voters and that their voices are only heard when they go to vote.
Since this is a national election, it is believed that there is no real problem for the Bharatiya Janata Party to retain its seat unless it solidifies its votes in favor of the opposition. This is because this candidate has limited value in an election where the Bharatiya Janata Party is primarily fighting on the basis of Modi’s face and the achievements of his government since 2014. Moreover, there are many beneficiaries of the Modi government’s scheme. People here are provided with houses, water, electricity and LPG connections. Even if direct benefit transfers continue to provide the Bharatiya Janata Party with ample cushion.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has many concerns regarding fatigue in its cadre. Bharatiya Janata Party officials appear to have become lethargic, and information on the ground suggests that they are not putting in the effort that is characteristic of a classic Bharatiya Janata Party organization. There is resentment among many workers over the alleged disregard the BJP has shown towards them by bringing in leaders from other parties, especially the SP, who are quickly given prestigious posts. The average Karyakartan, who has worked hard for the party for years, feels betrayed by this trend.
Samajwadi Party aims for victory
In 2019, the Samajwadi Party lost Barabanki to the BJP’s Upendra Singh Rawat by a margin of over 100,000 votes. The SP got 425,000 votes while the BJP got around 4,35,000 votes. The Indian National Congress came in third place with only around 159,000 votes. Since 2019, the parliamentary organization and support base here in Barabanki has only deteriorated further.
However, as part of the INDI alliance, the Samajwadi Party allotted the Barabanki seat to the Congress. The Grand Old Party is currently fielding Tanuj Punia against Rajrani Rawat of the BJP.
Although there is no obvious anger among voters against the BJP or Prime Minister Modi, the INDI coalition is confident of wresting seats from the saffron party this time. This is mainly because the Samajwadi Party is buoyed by a series of municipal election wins here, apart from the three Assembly segments that it withstood both Yogi and Modi factors and won in 2022.
The battle in Barabanki is not so much between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress as it is between the SP and the Bharatiya Janata Party. Tanuj Punia does belong to the Congress, but his victory is not possible without an almost complete transfer of votes from the SP. Muslim voters may be a ready voting booth for the Barabanki Congress, but they alone will not be enough to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party.
This brings us to the question of Congress. The battle in Barabanki is a close one as voters are not in the mood to punish PM Modi. Traditional SP voters may therefore be less inclined to jump on polling day and support the Congress. Opposition parties will defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh for the simple fact that Prime Minister Modi is set to rule for a third term and there is a widespread perception that voting for the Congress may be a waste. There is a high possibility that it will not be possible. own franchise.
The Samajwadi Party has played the PDA card as part of its election campaign in Barabanki, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of betraying the Pichude, Dalit and Arupasankyak (backward, Dalit and minority) communities. Muslims and Scheduled Castes together make up about 47% of Barabanki voters. The highly populated demographic of the constituency makes this battle a difficult one for the BJP, as the Bharatiya Janata Party could lose if the INDI bloc is able to fully integrate Muslim and Dalit voters. There is. But there is no sign that Dalits will vote for lock, stock and barrel Congress candidates.
major issues
unemployment and immigration
One of the major problems in Barabanki is unemployment. Employment opportunities are limited as there is no major industry in the area. Agriculture is a major source of employment and a major sector of economic development in the region. However, not everyone wants to participate in agricultural activities, especially young people who want to get a job in industry to earn a better living. Therefore, they migrate to urban centers such as Lucknow and Delhi, and even as far away as Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Soaked in water
Waterlogging remains a major hurdle for voters in Barabanki. Thanks to the region’s crumbling drainage system, even brief rains can flood the area with water for days. Houses remained underwater for several days after heavy rains flooded the area last September. The area was devastated as at least 4,500-5,000 people were evacuated due to flooding and NDRF personnel had to rescue people from their homes. Chhaya roundabout, KD Singh Babu Road, road bus stand, Peerbatawan, Haddi Ganj, Navi Ganj and Palhari are the worst affected areas during the monsoon. Flooding also leads to problems such as destruction of crops and goods and loss of livestock, resulting in huge losses for farmers and traders.
farmers’ problems
Agriculture in Barabanki is changing, with farmers shifting to cash crops such as peppermint and indigo. However, this change does not solve the fundamental problems of smallholder farmers. They still struggle to get a fair price for their crops and are forced to sell to local traders, often at a loss. Electricity, water, and fertilizer costs continue to be a burden, and the process of selling to the government is complicated and feels unaffordable. Small-scale farmers working with limited land rarely break even, especially with the added challenges of storage and transportation. They are calling on the government to guarantee minimum support prices for crops and prioritize basic needs before introducing new policies.
urban infrastructure
Lack of public infrastructure remains a major problem in Barabanki. Educational and medical facilities are lacking, and there are no all-weather roads connecting rural areas. Additionally, power supply abnormalities that occur during the monsoon season after the rains have become a problem, and residents have complained that their daily lives are being affected. Moreover, the medical infrastructure is collapsing, forcing people to travel to nearby Lucknow for major illnesses. Patients in Barabanki also suffer due to the lack of basic equipment in current health facilities in the area. Ceiling fans in the hospital are running slowly, leaving nurses with no choice but to use them to provide relief. A report last year said the heat was exacerbating patient suffering as health facilities on the outskirts of the state capital grappled with poor infrastructure. The state is undergoing a sweltering heatwave and at least 68 people have died from various illnesses in the past few days.
communal tension
Community tensions sometimes boil over in Barabanki and tend to lead to inter-communal clashes. In 2021, opposition parties targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party over the demolition of a century-old mosque at Ram Sanehi Ghat in Barabanki. Political parties have also accused each other of exploiting hate politics, which has caused deep social divisions. This also led to the polarization of voters along communal lines in the region.
caste
Caste of candidates remains a major issue in Barabanki Lok Sabha constituency. People still believe in the old saying “Jati kahin nahi jati”. Voter turnout in the region was 60%, with the majority of voters voting based on caste lines. The majority of literate voters have either abstained from voting or left the constituency in search of better employment opportunities.
infrastructure development
Railway station
Barabanki station is being redeveloped at a cost of Rs 1 million. 33.42 billion. Along with the renovation of the station’s main entrance, additional entrances and exits have been added. Elevators and escalators will also be installed to improve passenger convenience.
railway infrastructure
Several railway lines, including those from Barabanki to Gorakhpur and Bulwal to Gonda, are being electrified and doubled for increased capacity and speed. We are also focusing on safety, such as abolishing railroad crossings and constructing road overpasses and underbridges. Passenger amenities at the station have been improved, including the installation of new shelters and benches, as well as facilities for passengers with disabilities. The introduction of new trains and the addition of stops on existing lines has made rail travel more accessible and convenient for local residents.
urban infrastructure
In December 2023, the state government announced under the Mukhiya Mantri Nagariya Arupvikshit Va Marin Basti Vikas Yojana various areas of Maharajganj, Aligarh, Lakhimpur Kheri, Basti, Kannauj, Varanasi and Gorakhpur. announced that preparations are underway to complete a total of 229 development projects. , Lucknow, Agra, Barabanki. These development projects involve the construction of various structures such as roads, drainage ditches, and walls.
Keri Link Road from Barabanki to Lakhimpur
It is a national highway under construction that starts from Barabanki and ends at Lakhimpur. It is a four-lane highway that provides connectivity to the areas of Dewa Sharif, Fatehpur, Mahmudabad, Biswan and Laharpur. It will be built at a cost of 649 million rupees.
Voter demographics
Total number of voters: 1816103
SC: 466,738 (25.7%)
geographical composition
Urban voters: 210,668 (11.4%)
Local voters: 1,605,435 (88.4%)
religious composition
Hinduism: 77.1%
