It’s ‘haves’ vs ‘have-nots’ in Mainpur
22 April 2014 11:58 AM IST
People complain MSY has provided development to Saifai only
pic for representation purpose. (Photo: DC/File)
Mainpuri: Stark contrast of ‘Have’ and ‘Have-nots’ distinguish Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Lok Sabha constituency of Mainpuri.
While Saifai, the village of the first family of Uttar Pradesh, basks in the glory of development, the rest of the district complains of ‘step-motherly treatment’ with even Muslim villages lamenting not given ration cards and subsidised foodgrains.
Even though Mainpuri has been electing Mr Yadav since 1991 it has remained a Samajwadi Party bastion barring a few elections. But development seems to be confined to Safai alone.
The SP chief made the village known to the world with annual festival in which Bollywood icons take part and also by getting all modern facilities there. But beyond Saifai, Mainpuri gives out as a district, which slips into pitch darkness after sunset, while roads connecting it to other districts are mostly broken and full of potholes.
“Our village has more than 2,000 people but the government never bothers to give us roads and electricity. All development in Mainpuri takes place in Saifai only,” said Anoop Singh of Ambarpur village.
Even though Mr Yadav claims to be a messiah of Muslims, the minority community in Konchi village under Ghiror Assembly constituency complained of ‘step-motherly’ treatment.
“There are about 1,000 people in the village but none of us have got ration cards. We do not get foodgrains. Even though (MGNREGA) work is being carried out here, they do not take us as labourers. Elders here do not get pension,” said Sarwar Khan of Konchi village. Sohra Khan in the same village said that this time they would vote for the BSP.
With over four lakh Yadav voters and about two lakh Muslims, Mr Yadav sits pretty to win Mainpuri comfortably even though people share their hopes from a Modi led government at the Centre. But Mr Yadav’s nearest rival seems not of the BJP but of the BSP, as has been the trend for the last two elections.
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