Robertsganj: political history
This is a collection of articles archived for the excellence of their content. |
A history of the Lok Sabha constituency
2009-2019; and till 2024 May
Shalabh & Arvind Chauhan, June 1, 2024: The Times of India
From: Shalabh & Arvind Chauhan, June 1, 2024: The Times of India
Robertsganj, Sonbhadra: A region of multiple terrains and river streams, Sonbhadra, the second largest district in Uttar Pradesh, comes alive during monsoon. Normally though, apart from the noise of the constant movement of heavy vehicles in and out of its factories and plants, the region remains mostly calm.
Talk of a change, however, is getting louder as Robertsganj Lok Sabha constituency is set for polls on Saturday. Robertsganj, the headquarters of Sonbhadra district, has five assembly segments — Ghorawal, Obra, Duddhi, Robertsganj and Chakia — and an electorate of 17.8 lakh.
Ramdev Gond, 58, a tribal from Basuda village in Chopan block, stresses the need for ‘badlav’ (change). “Our vote helps candidates go to Delhi, but I haven’t seen any major change taking place in my area in the last 10 years. I believe change is needed at this juncture.”
Politicians will not overlook Ramdev, member of a tribal community that forms 20% of the electorate in Sonbhadra. Tribal hamlets in the district account for 3.9 lakh of UP’s 11.3 lakh ST population per Census 2011. Gonds alone are 45% followed by Kharwars (21%). Only SCs (23%) outnumber tribals in Robertsganj and share the potential to tilt the scales in someone’s advantage.
Chhanbey MLA Rinki Singh Kol, 36, of NDA constituent Apna Dal (S) is locked in a direct fight with Samajwadi Party’s Chhotelal Kharwar, 51, for the seat. BSP has fielded Dhaneshwar Gautam, a lawyer.
Rinki is the daughter-in-law of Pakaudi Lal Kol, who was the Robertsganj MP in 2009 with SP and in 2019 with Apna Dal (S). Her husband Rahul died of cancer. The family enjoys the backing of their Kol SC community, which has about 75,000 votes here.
After making embarrassing remarks against upper castes at a public meeting in Oct 2021, Pakaudi Lal had to sacrifice his ticket as Apna Dal (S) chief Anupriya Patel did not want to invite their wrath in Sonbhadra and her own seat of Mirzapur.
Pakaudi Lal had earlier pushed for the candidature of his younger son Jagprakash instead of Rinki. “Kols have a sizeable population in Mirzapur and, hence, pleasing the community is important for Anupriya. Picking Rinki appears to be wise as it becomes easier to target women voters across various castes,” said Jagat Narayan Vishwakarma, a journalist from Renukoot.
In 2014, Pakaudi Lal, contesting on an SP ticket, finished third behind Kharwar, then a BJP candidate, and Sharada Prasad (BSP). In 2019, BJP handed the seat to Apna Dal and Pakaudi Lal made a strong comeback by winning 45.3% votes. In 2022 state polls, BJP swept all five assembly segments of Robertsganj LS seat.
Yadavs have 1.3 lakh votes and Muslims nearly 60,000. Along with anti-incumbency, Rinki has to worry about resentment among upper caste members against Pakaudi Lal. It becomes evident that folk singer Kharwar has been on song and the SP camp upbeat about their campaign. A dedicated BJP worker and former pradhan of his village, Kharwar became MP twice only to be denied a ticket in 2019.
Shalik Patel, 34, a driver from Arauli village on the outskirts of Robertsganj, said: “The ‘barat ghar’ (community centre) that was opened in our gram sabha in Aug 2011 collapsed within a few months. Not a single wedding could be held there. Villagers are using the damaged building as a shelter home for cattle. Pakaudi Lal has been elected multiple times and has started taking things for granted. BJP should have fielded a new face instead of his ‘bahu’.”
Shiv Mohan, 45, a dhobi and a father of four, runs a small grocery shop in Kota, a village on the road to Garhwa district in Jharkhand, which still has a Naxal presence. “A decade ago, it was not possible to move out after sunset as Naxals used to target the Kon-Garhwa route. Maoists have shifted out of Sonbhadra and we feel secure while commuting in the night though unemployment is a big worry here,” said Mohan.
Dubbed as the energy capital of India as it produces more than 10,000 MW power, many villages in Sonbhadra are not yet connected to the power grid and don’t have mobile phone services. Moreover, industries and manufacturing units that exploit the natural resources of the region offer limited jobs to local youths.
“Only a few lucky people get employment. Earlier, ‘baniyas’ and ‘seths’ avoided offering jobs to locals as they felt that people who stay in remote villages are Naxal sympathisers,” said Shalik Patel from Arauli.
Though the Maoist movement has been suppressed in Sonbhadra, its shadow still looms over the region. Voting will end at 4pm in 504 of the 1,295 polling stations in Robertsganj as a “precautionary measure”.
With almost 40% of the area covered by forest, it takes up to five hours to commute between two farthest villages in the district. Ram Bhog Gond, a private employee in late 20s who works at a leading hotel near Badhauli crossing in Robertsganj, says elected representatives should ensure local youths get preference in jobs.
“Local bodies, MLAs and MPs together with factory owners must ensure that 15-20% of unskilled and non-technical roles that require manual labour are set aside for local youths. We are among the few tribal families that moved out of the village in search of jobs,” he said.
Rinki said: “I do not speak a lot during public meetings and rallies as I don’t feel there is a lot to say. I’m working hard to win the seat for the NDA alliance in UP.” She admitted unemployment was a major issue, adding that she was determined to address it.
