Angry voters set to derail Devipatan division MPs' campaign

BAHRAICH: The three sitting MPs of Devipatan Division are struggling to beat the anti-incumbency wave and voters' anger. Angry over absence of developmental work in their respective constituencies, the trio has faced angry protests in their public meetings at several places.
The three seats of the division Gonda, Bahraich (R) and Shravasti Balrampur are represented by steel minister Beni Prasad Verma alias Beni babu, Commando Kamal Kishore and Binay Kumar Pandey alias Binnu Pandey respectively.
While seeking votes in 2009 Lok Sabha election, Beni babu had promised Gonda electorate of getting the roads, including Farenda-Jarwal Road, repaired. He had also promised a direct train to Allahabad. However, none of his promises were fulfilled in the last five years. As a result, he faced public fury during Sonia Gandhi's rally. People even took to roads to protest against his apathy. Alarmed over public outcry, Beni Babu sought a shift to Kaiserganj which was denied by the party. Recently, he faced angry crowd at Gaisdi and Sadullah Nagar during a public meeting.
Commando Kamal Kishore too is facing similar situation in Bahraich (R). During a recent public contact programme in the main market at Ghanta Ghar, he was surrounded by angry public who accused him of going back on his promises. They also raised slogans against him forcing him and his entourage to beat a hasty retreat. Before the announcement of his candidature, the MP had sought shift to Basgaon constituency which was rejected by the party.
During 2009 elections, He had promised to get the Barabanki-Bahraich-Rupaidiha highway (NH 28C) completed within next two years. The promise remained unfulfilled and people are forced to travel on a broken road. His other promises like completion of Bahraich-Gonda railway line, Bahraich-Jarwal broad gauge and 40-bed ICU in district hospital too remained unfulfilled. "None of the promises has been fulfilled. The MP remained absent through out his five year term and turned up again at the time of elections," said a voter.
At another recent meeting, he incurred voters' wrath for promising a new era of development. Angry over his false promises they demanded that the MP present details of the works done by his MP fund of Rs 25 crore in the lat five years. All attempts of Kamal Kishore to start a conversation fell on deaf ear. As tempers rose, senior party leaders intervened and took him away.
Binay Kumar Pandey alias Binnu Pandey promised Shravasti Balrampur electorate of railway network, power and water supply and smooth roads during 2009 elections. None of the promises were fulfilled. The locals travelled to Delhi to stage a protest and demand railway network from Balrampur to Bahraich via Shravasti on MP's promise. However, he never turned up at the protest site. "We were repeatedly let down by our MP. How can we again support him," said a tea-stall owner