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  India   Politics  16 Oct 2017  In Phulpur, Apna Dal makes it easy for BJP

In Phulpur, Apna Dal makes it easy for BJP

THE ASIAN AGE. | AMITA VERMA
Published : Oct 16, 2017, 3:02 am IST
Updated : Oct 16, 2017, 3:02 am IST

The Apna Dal has chosen Phulpur to hold a rally on the death anniversary of its founder Dr Sonelal Patel on October 17.

Apna Dal leader Anupriya Patel
 Apna Dal leader Anupriya Patel

Lucknow: The Apna Dal, led by Anurpiya Patel, is all set to make it easier for the BJP in the Phulpur Lok Sabha by-election, the date of which is yet to be announced.

The Phulpur by-election is to be held following the resignation of UP deputy chief minister Keshav Maurya who resigned last month after being elected to the UP Legislative Council.

The BJP is particularly concerned about retaining Phulpur in the by-election after talks of the opposition fielding a joint candidate against the ruling party.

The Apna Dal has chosen Phulpur to hold a rally on the death anniversary of its founder Dr Sonelal Patel on October 17.

Phulpur, the constituency held thrice by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, has a dominant Kurmi population in the OBC matrix and the Apna Dal is a Kurmi —based political outfit that has emerged as a force to reckon with in recent Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

The Kurmi community holds late Dr Sonelal Patel in high esteem and the strong emergence of the Apna Dal on the political horizon in recent years proves it. 

The BJP is now evidently using the Apna Dal to consolidate its position among OBC, Kurmis in particular, before the Lok Sabha by-election.  

The ‘Shraddhanjali Sabha’ on October 17 will be a show of strength of the BJP-Apna Dal alliance and is also being seen as the beginning of the by-election campaign in the constituency.  BJP and Apna Dal MLAs have also been directed to ensure a sizeable crowd. 

Tags: apna dal, keshav maurya, anurpiya patel, phulpur lok sabha
Location: India, Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow