Brahmins hold key to Kidwai Nagar Assembly seat

KANPUR: Brahmins hold the key in the newly created Assembly constituency of Kidwai Nagar with majority of the political parties fielding candidates from the caste.

Keeping the eye on 1,16,000 Brahmin voters in the constituency of 3,16,000 voters, the BJP has fielded Vivek Sheel Shukla, who is very close to senior BJP leader Uma Bharti.

Meanwhile, SP has fielded senior party leader Om Prakash Mishra for the first time, whereas Congress has roped in Ajay Kapoor -- sitting MLA from Govind Nagar constituency and BSP has contested Shyam Sundar Garg in the newly-formed constituency.

There are 50,000 votes of Baniyas and Vaishyas, Dalits hold 35,000 votes, while 30,000 is from OBCs and Muslims and 25,000 votes come from Punjabi community.

Relying on Brahmin votes, BJP's Shukla also expects to bag OBC and Vaishya votes following the campaigning by Bharti.

Congress's Ajay Kapur, on the other hand, claims that people will vote for him rising above religion and caste for the development work he has done in the area.

SP candidate said the people are looking at the SP as an alternative to the ruling BSP.

Depending on the Dalit and Vaishya votes, the BSP candidate is hopeful to win the poll by bagging the Brahmin votes.

Political analysts believe that main battle is between Congress and BJP in the Kidwai Nagar constituency.

Meanwhile, SP has fielded senior party leader Om Prakash Mishra for the first time, whereas Congress has roped in Ajay Kapoor -- sitting MLA from Govind Nagar constituency and BSP has contested Shyam Sundar Garg in the newly-formed constituency.