By Anupam Srivastava
In Western Uttar Pradesh, the escalating conflict between BJP stalwarts Sanjeev Balyan and Sangeet Som has become a significant issue for the party. This internal strife surfaced prominently during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, impacting the BJP’s performance in the region.j
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had initiated the BJP’s election campaign in Western UP from the Meerut Lok Sabha seat on March 31, considering it a lucky constituency for the party. Modi had launched campaigns from Meerut in both the 2014 and 2019 elections, leading to strong performances by the BJP in the state.
Modi's choice to start the 2024 campaign from Meerut was aimed at consolidating Jat votes, a critical demographic in Western UP. The event, held at the Central Potato Research Institute in Modipuram, highlighted the new alliance between the BJP and Jayant Chaudhary’s Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). Sanjeev Balyan, the BJP candidate from the neighboring Muzaffarnagar constituency, was present, relying heavily on Jat voter consolidation.
However, since the 2022 assembly elections, tensions had been brewing between Balyan and former BJP MLA from Sardhana, Sangeet Som. Som's supporters accused Balyan of sabotaging his assembly election campaign, which led to a rift. The conflict intensified as Balyan's convoy was attacked just two days before Modi's rally, with Balyan’s supporters blaming Som for the incident.
The internal discord was well known to the BJP's top leadership. Following Modi's rally in Meerut, a meeting was held in a Swiss cottage behind the stage, involving Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, state BJP President Bhupendra Chaudhary, Balyan, and Som. Despite the half-hour discussion, no resolution was reached, and the animosity persisted throughout the election period.
Post-elections, Balyan faced a significant defeat in Muzaffarnagar, losing to Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Harendra Singh Malik by 24,672 votes. Malik had campaigned vigorously against Balyan, highlighting his shortcomings in various villages. Additionally, the Jat and Muslim voters' consolidation in favor of SP contributed to Balyan's defeat.
Balyan did not take his defeat lightly, alleging internal sabotage by BJP members. He specifically pointed fingers at Som, accusing him of aiding the SP. Balyan publicly called for an investigation into these allegations and criticized the party leadership for allowing 'traitors' to hold high positions within the BJP.
In response, Som held a press conference defending his role and performance in the Sardhana constituency, where the BJP performed well. He urged Balyan to introspect and accused him of corruption, further deepening the divide.
The feud between Balyan and Som, both prominent figures since the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, significantly undermined the BJP’s discipline and electoral prospects in Western UP. Analysts note that the BJP’s internal conflict, coupled with voter dissatisfaction over candidate selection, particularly among the Thakur community, played a crucial role in the party’s poor showing. Despite efforts by Yogi Adityanath to mediate, the rift remained unresolved.
As a result, the BJP managed to win only 13 out of 26 seats in Western UP, a sharp decline from the 18 seats it had secured in 2019. This internal strife within the BJP has raised concerns about the party's ability to manage its factionalism and maintain electoral dominance in the region.
The BJP has now initiated an internal review process to understand the reasons behind its disappointing performance. State BJP President Bhupendra Chaudhary has formed a committee to investigate the significant loss of seats and identify the factors contributing to the party’s electoral setbacks. The party aims to address these issues and rebuild its strength in the region ahead of future elections.
No comments:
Post a Comment