electoral-clash-anupriya-vs-raja-bhaiya-feud

 An unusual battle of egos between two big leaders from eastern Uttar Pradesh has taken everyone by surprise, reports say.

 

Apna Dal (S) leader and Union Minister Anupriya Patel and Kunda MLA Raghuraj Pratap Singh, also known as Raja Bhaiya, have been issuing statements against each other, reportedly shaking political alignments in the region.

 

Anupriya Patel, leader of Apna Dal (S) and a Union Minister known for her typically non-controversial stance, sparked controversy by criticising those who considered themselves “self-proclaimed kings who thought Kunda (an Assembly segment in Kaushambhi) was their fiefdom.”.

 

She remarked, 'Ab raja EVM se paida hote hain' (Now kings are born from EVMs). Her remarks, seemingly aimed at Raghuraj Pratap Singh, popularly known as Raja Bhaiya, a powerful figure in the area, signalled Patel's assertive move to consolidate support from Dalit and OBC communities.

 

In response, Raja Bhaiya stated, 'EVMs give birth to Jan sewaks (public representatives) and not kings. Raja Rajwade to saat dashak pehle hi khatam ho gaye' (Kingship ended seven decades ago)," he said.

 

The immediate repercussion of this verbal duel was Raja Bhaiya's endorsement of the Samajwadi Party (SP), with his party workers mobilising to support the SP's candidate, Ramesh Bind, in Mirzapur.

 

Raja Bhaiya, a seven-time MLA from Kunda since 1993, holds significant influence in Kunda and its neighbouring areas, particularly among the Pasi community.

 

His decision to support SP has potentially altered the political landscape, particularly for Anupriya Patel, who previously enjoyed relative comfort in her constituency.

 

With Pratapgarh and Mirzapur gearing up for elections on May 25 and June 1, respectively, the ground situation could see further changes," sources predict.

 

Sangam Lal Gupta of the BJP seeks re-election from Pratapgarh, while SP's S.P. Singh Patel and BSP's Prathamesh Mishra are also in the fray.

In Mirzapur, Anupriya Patel faces competition from SP's Ramesh Bind and BSP's Manish Tripathi.

 

This unexpected clash between two influential leaders has injected a new dimension into the electoral landscape of eastern Uttar Pradesh, making it a focal point of attention in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, sources confirm.