In Fatehpur, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti aims to breach the maze of caste

LUCKNOW: Identified as a fast mover in NITI Ayog’s list of 108 aspirational districts, Fatehpur’s identity of being the land of cusps is well known. Nestled between Allahabad and Kanpur, the region shares a syncretic culture of Avadh and Bundelkhand in towards its south.

Fatehpur’s characteristic ambiguity prevails in the poll season too with India’s only mahamandaleshwar minister — Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti — hoping to repeat her 2014 win.

SP-BSP’s joint candidate Sukhdev Prasad is countering the sadhvi’s aspiration with the caste ammunition.

There are 18.2 lakh voters in the city of whom more than 50% belong to SC and OBC categories.

“While there’s no dearth of problems faced by the people, caste is perhaps a handy yardstick when it comes to voting,” concluded socio-political activist Rajendra Sahu.

A glimpse of problems can be gathered from the people’s manifesto for Fatehpur drafted by a group of social activists in the city.

This includes: funds sanction for 100 villages that fall in Bundelkhand geographical area at par with districts in Bundelkhand, railway connectivity between Lucknow and Fatehpur, higher education facilities as most children head either to Kanpur or Allahabad for that, job creation and skill development to check migration, rejuvenation of dying rivers, construction of sewer lines in the city. While locals feel issues are of importance, the influence of political propaganda is visible even though people keep their cards close to their heart.

Dilip Singh, a political commentator in Fatehpur, said: “the sadhvi is banking on the Modi factor while the SP-BSP candidate is pushing the caste equation.

Congress candidate – former MP Rakesh Sachan -- is out to cut into votes of both the sides. He has in fact added spice to the election.”