BJP Nominates Sitting MP Rajkumar Chahar In Fatehpur Sikri (image-X/Rajkumarchahar9)
Fatehpur Sikri Lok Sabha constituency in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, maintains a stronghold of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with its five legislative assembly segments such as Agra Rural (SC reserved), Fatehpur Sikri, Kheragarh, Fatehabad, and Bah under the saffron party.
Apart from the 2009 elections, where Bahujan Samaj Party’s (BSP) Seema Upadhyay won, the Fatehpur Sikri Lok Sabha seat has been held by the BJP ever since. The party’s reign began with Jat leader Choudhary Babulai securing 44 percent of the votes and securing the seat with ease. In the absence of a strong opposition with Congress candidate and actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar standing, the party decided to replace Babulai with Rajkumar Chahar.
Although, at the time, Chahar had a history of unsuccessful attempts at assembly elections from the BSP, BJP, and as an independent candidate. Going against expectations, Chahar defeated Babbar and secured 64 percent of the votes. Chahar received more votes than the combined votes gained by Babulai in 2014 and the BSP’s Seema Upadhyay in 2009. With 6.6 votes, Chahar’s victory was reported as greater (in terms of the number of votes) than Prime Minister Modi himself, according to Hindustani Biradari secretary Zia Uddin’s statements to India Today.
A favourite of the public, he has consistently provided opportunities for sportspersons hailing from rural areas by organising Namo Khel competitions and MP sports competitions across the country. The BJP has sent Chahar to campaign in several other states, indicating a sense of trust and confidence in Chahar shared by the higher-ups.
As the National President of the BJP’s Kisan Morcha, Chahar is reported to have a good influence among the farmers.
For the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, there are speculations of Raj Babbar contesting from the constituency once again after the Congress-SP alliance has changed equations. With all SP’s seats in the constituency now with Congress, the party’s high command has contacted Babbar regarding elections, according to an Amar Ujala report. Babbar is scheduled to visit Agra on March 13 to assess the political and electoral atmosphere.
It remains to be seen whether Chahar is able to repeat his victory and retain his seat or if the former state president of Congress wins Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur Lok Sabha seat after failing twice in the past.
