INDIA Bloc’s TMC Candidate Laliteshpati Tripathi Is On A Strong Wicket In Bhadohi Seat

By Pradeep Kapoor

LUCKNOW: Laliteshpati Tripathi, great grandson of former chief minister Kamlapati Tripathi India block candidate contesting on TMC ticket from Bhadohi Lok Sabha constituency is all set to challenge BJP in this prestigious constituency in eastern Uttar Pradesh.. Known for exclusive carpets all over the world Bhadohi Lok Sabha constituency will see direct fight between Laliteshpati Tripathi and BJP candidate yet to be announced.

Laliteshpati Tripathi had been Congress MLA from Madiaon assembly segment of Mirzapur Lok Sabha constituency in 2012 polls. Then he contested 2019 Lok Sabha and 2022 assembly polls but lost both the elections. Because of differences with Congress leadership, Laliteshpati Tripathi left Congress in 2021 and joined TMC after meeting Mamata Banerjee at Kolkata.

The manner in which Laliteshpati Tripathi ended his relationship with Congress shocked the brahmins in eastern UP. He ended the relationship of four generations starting with Pandit Kamlapati Tripathi his son Lokpati Tripathi and grandson Rajeshpati Tripathi. As per the reports Mughal prince Dara Shikoh learnt Sanskrit from ancestors of Pandit Kamlapati Tripathi living in Varanasi.

As per the understanding between Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party left one seat for TMC to enable Laliteshpati Tripathi. With the backing of Congress and Samajwadi Party as an INDIA block candidate Laliteshpati Tripathi is expected to give good fight to the BJP.

It would be worth mentioning here the BJP won this seat in 2019 polls when party candidate Ramesh Chand defeated Ranganath Mishra by a margin of 43,619 votes. Similarly in 2014 Lok Sabha polls also, BJP candidate Virendra Singh defeated Rakesh Dhar Tripathi of BSP by the huge margin of 1,58,141 votes. This Lok Sabha came into existence in 2009 when Gorakhnath of BSP defeated Chotelal Bind of Samajwadi Party by a small margin of 12,963 votes.

Bhadohi is poised for interesting fight as BJP may give ticket to former Congress MP from Varanasi Rajesh Mishra who recently joined saffron brigade. Being very close to Varanasi Lok Sabha seat won by PM Narendra Modi, Bhadohi Lok Sabha is very important for BJP. Bhadohi Lok Sabha constituency has five assembly segments. Out of these segments three we’re won by Samajwadi Party and one each by BJP and alliance partner Nishad Party.

The caste combination in this Lok Sabha constituency is such that brahmins and backward bind community decide the fate of the candidate followed by the muslim community which has good presence. (IPA Service)