Accidental MP: A struggle for Dimple Yadav to navigate Mainpuri's caste maze

Accidental MP: A struggle for Dimple Yadav to navigate Mainpuri’s caste maze

During the by-elections of November 2009, the political landscape of Uttar Pradesh underwent significant upheaval, especially in Firozabad. Here, Dimple Yadav, whose entry into politics was accidental, found her electoral destiny hanging in the balance. Akhilesh’s dual victories in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections from both Kannauj and Firozabad triggered electoral regulations that demanded him vacate one seat. Thus, Akhilesh stepped down as a Member of Parliament from the Firozabad constituency, setting the stage for a fiercely contested by-election.

The by-election in Firozabad became a battleground for political heavyweights, with Dimple Yadav representing the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bollywood actor Raj Babbar contesting on behalf of the Indian National Congress. Raj Babbar’s return to the political arena after a stint in the SP added an extra dimension to the electoral dynamics, with SP stalwart Amar Singh spearheading Dimple Yadav’s campaign.

The campaigning fervor intensified as both sides rallied for support. Notably, Raj Babbar leveraged his connections in the film industry, enlisting the star power of Govinda and Salman Khan for publicity, which drew substantial crowds. In response, Amar Singh orchestrated a countermove, bringing in Sanjay Dutt, Jaya Prada, and Jaya Bachchan to bolster SP’s campaign.

However, a crucial misstep during one of the SP’s rallies, where Amar Singh’s comments stirred controversy and alienated a section of the Muslim electorate, proved detrimental. The ensuing division in the vote bank, coupled with Raj Babbar’s relentless campaigning, culminated in his victory by a significant margin of 85,343 votes.

The defeat marked a turning point in the relationship between Akhilesh Yadav and Amar Singh, with Akhilesh pushing for Singh’s expulsion from the party, a demand resisted by Mulayam Singh and Shivpal Yadav. Nonetheless, Amar Singh was eventually expelled from the SP, leading to a series of political realignments.

Despite this setback, Dimple Yadav’s political journey continued, with her subsequent election as the Member of Parliament from Kannauj in 2012, and subsequent victories in the 2014 and 2019 general elections. Following the demise of Mulayam Singh Yadav, Dimple assumed the mantle of representing the Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency.

Mainpuri is set to cast its votes on May 7 during the third phase of elections, where Dimple finds herself in a face-off against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Jaiveer Singh, who is Tourism Minister in Yogi government of Uttar Pradesh. While initially perceived as a direct contest between the two, Dimple Yadav may face unforeseen challenges with the entry of Shiv Prasad Yadav from the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) into the fray, adding a third contender.

BSP candidate, leveraging the Yadav card, has criticized the dominance of the Yadav family within the SP, alleging that tickets are primarily allocated to family members. “Neither SP nor BJP has extended opportunities to the Yadav community. The five Yadavs fielded by the Samajwadi Party are essentially Yadav family members,” remarked Shiv Prasad Yadav, the BSP candidate, expressing gratitude to Mayawati for endorsing Yadav candidates on select seats.

The emphasis on Yadav identity by the BSP candidate might pose a challenge to Dimple Yadav, who herself comes from a Rajput background and married Akhilesh Yadav in November 1999.

Adding to the complexity, the non-Yadav OBC voters in Mainpuri may not view the SP as favorably as they did during Mulayam Singh Yadav’s leadership in the Samajwadi Party era.

Further complicating the scenario is the presence of Raghuraj Singh Shakya, a former SP leader who later joined the BJP. Shakya, belonging to the OBC Shakya community, enjoys significant influence in the region and has been vigorously promoting the BJP’s development agenda under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It is worth noting that the OBC Shakya community’s population in Mainpuri is second only to the Yadavs, potentially impacting the electoral dynamics in the constituency.

As Dimple vies for re-election, Dimple Yadav’s trajectory underscores the resilience and adaptability required in the ever-evolving landscape of Uttar Pradesh politics. Her journey, marked by triumphs and challenges, reflects the intricate interplay of personalities and power dynamics within the state’s political arena.