2024 LS polls: Multiple factors led to Balyan’s defeat in Muzaffarnagar

Local issues like anger of party’s traditional Rajput voters and open revolt of BJP’s Sardhana MLA Sangeet Som against Balyan gave a jolt to the party’s poll prospects in the entire region

Political experts and Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leaders cited many factors that led to the defeat of two-time BJP MP Sanjeev Balyan to the Samajwadi Party leader Harendra Malik from Muzaffarnagar seat of Uttar Pradesh in the recently concluded 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Sanjeev Balyan said he carried out many development work in his constituency during his two terms. (HT file)

Both Balyan and Malik belong to the influential Jat community in western Uttar Pradesh. Balyan, who won the Muzaffarnagar seat in 2014 and 2019, has served as a Union minister of state in the Modi government.

As per Dharmendra Malik, leader of BKU (apolitical), major agrarian communities (Jat, Gujar, Tyagi and others) rejected the BJP because the Centre’s Agniveer scheme came as a shock for the younger generation of these communities.

Local issues like anger of party’s traditional Rajput voters and open revolt of BJP’s Sardhana MLA Sangeet Som against Balyan also gave a jolt to the party’s poll prospects in the entire region. As per political experts, the presence of BSP candidate Dara Singh Prajapat also paved way for Balyan’s defeat as he succeeded in splitting party’s core OBC voters and secured 1,43,707 votes.

Balyan further said he was always available for people and worked for their welfare. He also thanked RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary for extending his full support to him. He claimed that he also received the support of farmers and other communities. Balyan, however, refused to comment on the possible issues that led to his defeat.