BJP's Smriti Irani 2.0: How Nirahua could upset SP-BSP’s poll calculations in Azamgarh
Dinesh Lal Yadav aka Nirahua is one the highest paid Bhojpuri actors. The fact that he is a Yadav brightens his poll prospects. His self-made image will also help dent dynasty's hold.
In the Bhojpuri-speaking belt of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Nirahua is literally a rage. Many plug in earphones as they take to bed after a hard day’s work at night, listening to songs sung by 40-year-old 'Nirahua' aka Dinesh Lal Yadav. Of course, they often do so alone, given that most songs that Nirahua lent his voice to are fairly raunchy. They, nevertheless, strike a great chord with people.
It is this chord that the BJP is trying to strengthen in Azamgarh, pitting this Yadav against another political heavyweight — Akhilesh Singh Yadav.
Azamgarh is no easy seat for the BJP. Since 1996, only Muslims and Yadavs have won this Sabha seat. It is pertinent to note that when the entire state of Uttar Pradesh was swept away by the Modi wave in 2014, Azamgarh remained unconquered. The constituency was won by Akhilesh’s father and Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Mulayam Singh Yadav. In the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, the SP bagged three of the five constituencies of Azamgarh and the BSP got two.
As Mulayam has decided to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Mainpuri, it is Akhilesh trying his luck from the Lok Sabha seat.
Ramakant Yadav won the seat as a SP candidate in 1996 and 1999. He won it once again as a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate in 2004 and on a BJP ticket in 2009. The seat was held by Akbar Ahmed Dumpy as a BSP candidate in 1998 and 2008.
In 2014, the combined vote percentage of the SP and BSP in Azamgarh was over 63%, a factor that favours Akhilesh Yadav.
So, what are Nirahua’s chances of ensuring the seat falls in BJP’s kitty?
The fact that he hails from the Yadav community and is hugely popular among people for his work in the field of Bhojpuri cinema and music could give Akhilesh Yadav a run for his money.
Born in Ghazipur, Nirahua is closely familiar with the rough and tumble of eastern UP. Though he got educated in Kolkata, where his father worked, the singer-actor stayed deeply rooted in the rustic life of the region, a fact clearly reflected in his work. For his viewers, Nirahua is every bit a son of the soil, rooted and nurtured in the local milieu. The bonds of shared languages help establish a personal connect that is critical for mass leaders to reach out to their voters — many film personalities became hugely successful politicians down south simply owing to this factor.
His film career has had popular support. The Bigg Boss season 6 contestant played a supporting role in 2006 Bhojpuri release Chalat Musafir Moh Liyo Re starring Kalpana Patowary. But he shot to fame two years later, with his 2008 release Nirahua Rikshawala — he went on to become one of the highest paid Bhojpuri actors. There has been no looking back for him since then and he managed to give back-to-back blockbusters.
With movies like Nirahua No. 1, Nirahua Chalal Sasural, Nirahua Banal Don, Nirahua Hindustani — the name ‘Nirahua’ stuck with him. His fans now know and lovingly address him as Nirahua.
While there has been a lot of talk about how Akhilesh Yadav who awarded Nirahua the Yash Bharati award is now fighting against him, the fact is that the Bhojpuri superstar has won several awards, including Best Actor’ trophy at the International Bhojpuri Film Awards Show Malaysia for his powerhouse performance in Nirahua Hindustani 2.
Nirahua’s popularity could actually serve as a jolt to the caste arithmetic the SP-BSP are trying to capitalise upon in Azamgarh. The two parties are trying to consolidate the Yadav, Dalit and Muslim voters in the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh. The three communities form the crux of the SP-BSP alliance.
But the thing with stars is that their popularity can often cut across religious and social divides throwing to wind some of the best calculated moves. As Azamgarh votes on May 12, Nirahua could very well upset the SP-BSP’s calculations. At any rate, it is clear the BJP has found a Smriti Irani-like strong challenger in another tough, caste-ridden and dynastic UP seat.