Voters in many of the 13 parliamentary constituencies in eastern Uttar Pradesh, swept by the NDA five years ago, are talking about springing a few “surprises” when they vote on Saturday.

Many are unhappy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “failing to keep his promises”. Many others accuse the sitting MPs of the BJP and its allies of doing nothing for their constituencies.

“Even many forward caste voters, including Vaishyas, are venting their anger against Modi,” Rishabh Mishra, a scrap dealer in Varanasi, said.

He added a caveat: “It’s possible, though, that they will eventually cast their votes for Modi. But the fight is neck-and-neck in the region, and you cannot rule out a few surprises.”

Some observers suggested that the BJP’s frenzied campaign in Modi’s constituency of Varanasi reflected its nervousness about the region. The party has held light-and-sound shows in the sky using 1,000 hired drones, and paraded tableaux of gods and goddesses.

The BJP claims that Modi’s victory is a formality and the party is only trying to ensure a record margin against NDA candidate Ajay Rai of the Congress.

However, the buzz in the region is that the Congress’s alliance with the Samajwadi Party will raise the Opposition’s vote share significantly.

“While crowds were brought in buses and tempos from outside the city for Modi’s May 14 road show in Varanasi, the May 25 road show by Priyanka Gandhi and Dimple Yadav drew spontaneous attendance,” Birendra Pratap Singh, a postgraduate student of Banaras Hindu University, said.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party leader Dimple Yadav offers prayer at the Kaal Bhairav Mandir, in Varanasi, Saturday, May 25 PTI photo

At Assi Ghat, where 10 youths had gathered around a television camera on Wednesday to share their views on the election, only one — who wore a priest’s garb — defended the Modi government and the BJP.

The other youths ridiculed him as he said: “I’m educated and earn Rs 2 lakh a month. How will the youths who have gathered here get jobs if they are always in the haze of ganja? You don’t expect a job if you don’t study well.”

Some among the about 5,000 Brahmin voters who live near the Jagannath temple behind Assi Ghat said the community would vote against Modi.

“We have learnt that the government plans to bulldoze our houses to develop a ‘Jagannath Corridor’ on the lines of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor,” a long-time resident of the area said. “We are planning to vote against the sitting MP (Modi).”

People expressed similar anger against Modi in the Rajghat area where the government last year demolished buildings of the Sarva Seva Sangh and Gandhi Vidya
Sansthan — meant for Gandhian studies — and took over the premises.

Many voters aired anti-incumbency sentiments in Mirzapur, Chandauli, Ballia and Ghosi.

Anupriya Patel, candidate of BJP ally Apna Dal (S) and Union minister of state for commerce and industries, is seeking a third term from Mirzapur. But many voters accused her of ignoring the constituency over the last 10 years.

In Chandauli, the same accusation is being hurled at Mahedra Nath Pandey, Union minister for heavy industries and sitting MP, who had won by just 14,000 votes in 2019 amid allegations of manipulation. This time, Samajwadi candidate Virendra Singh claims he has the votes of every section.

“Patel and Pandey are not Modi. Once the people decide not to support them, they will stick to their plan,” claimed Anju Patel of Bhadohi, a postgraduate student of modern history at BHU.

“Bhadohi MP Ramesh Chand Bind of the BJP will face a tough fight from Virendra Singh of the Samajwadi Party. Singh and most other INDIA candidates will win the bulk of the 40 per cent OBC and 15 per cent Muslim vote in the region.”

Pankaj Chaudhary of the BJP, seeking a seventh term from Maharajganj, is on a stronger wicket, having kept in touch with his constituents round the year.

Pankaj — winner in 1991, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2014 — is pitted against Virendra Chaudhary, Congress MLA from Pharenda. Virendra seems to have wide OBC support because of the Samajwadi alliance, but Mausame Alam of the BSP claims he has the Muslim community’s trust.

In Gorakhpur, though, the received wisdom is that despite playing truant for most of the last five years, BJP candidate Ravi Kishan will win a second straight time. This is attributed to the influence of the Gorakhnath temple, headed by chief minister Yogi Adityanath who regularly holds his public outreach programme, the Janata Darbar.

Of the 13 seats, the BJP bagged 10 the last time while ally Apna Dal (S) won one. Ghazipur and Ghosi went to the BSP’s Afzal Ansari and Atul Rai.