Amidst the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, 'Sonu Singh', a former legislator and heavyweight from Sultanpur, made waves by joining the Samajwadi Party. The alliance has turned heads and set the political climate in Sultanpur abuzz, especially after images with party leader Akhilesh Yadav made headlines. In a fierce contest, Sonu Singh had battled against BJP's Maneka Gandhi in the 2019 elections on a BSP ticket, narrowly losing by just 14,000 votes.
As the voting for Sultanpur's parliamentary seat approaches on May 25, the move is seen as a boon for the SP candidate, given Sonu Singh's strong presence in the region where he's well-respected, despite facing more than a dozen legal cases. His brother, Yashbhadra Singh 'Monu', is also quite active in the area and has served as a block chief.
Source: aajtak
It's said that in Sultanpur, whether it's an assembly or parliament election, the strength of this powerful family is a decisive factor. They wield significant political influence in the region. The Singh brothers, Sonu and Monu, enjoy considerable clout, particularly among the Kshatriya voters who hold them in high regard.
Let's delve into the story of Sonu Singh
Sonu Singh kicked off his political career with the Samajwadi Party in 2002. But in 2009, leaving SP behind, he joined the BSP. When disregarded by BSP in 2012, he shifted to the Peace Party and contested elections under its symbol.
Source: aajtak
Before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, when Varun Gandhi contested from Sultanpur, Sonu and his brother Monu joined BJP and supported Varun. Sonu switched back to BSP in the same tenure, and with Mayawati's endorsement, he became a Lok Sabha candidate, garnering around 450,000 votes and coming very close to winning against Maneka Gandhi.
The election in Sultanpur just got exciting
With Sonu Singh now in the Samajwadi Party, the Sultanpur election is heating up. There are nearly 350,000 Kshatriya voters who Sonu will attempt to sway in his favor. This could spell trouble for the BJP candidate. Sonu is well-connected within political circles, enjoying friendships with figures like Kunda's Raja Bhaiya and Jaunpur's Dhananjay Singh. Sonu and Monu are also seen in the company of BJP MP Brijbhushan Sharan Singh.
Since independence, the 'Singh family' has dominated the political scene in the Dhanpatganj block of Sultanpur district. Sonu Singh's father Indra Bhadra Singh had been a block chief and later an MLA. After his father's assassination, Sonu together with his brother Monu shouldered the family's political legacy. Notably, he won his first ever civil election from the same seat his father had twice held.
Sonu's continued dominance in legislature and block chief positions
Following his father's tenure as an MLA, Sonu's mother took over as the block chief of Dhanpatganj. During this period, in broad daylight, Sonu's father was murdered outside the district courthouse, a case in which Sant Gyandev emerged as a key suspect.
Source: aajtak
After the family tragedy, the brothers took over. Sonu contested the 2002 general assembly election and emerged victorious. He won again from the same seat as MLA during the 2007 elections, backed by Mulayam Singh who re-nominated him. Notably, Sonu was jailed in 2007 following a change in state government to BSP, led by Mayawati, but even then, he won his third term as MLA while imprisoned for murder allegations.
All this political maneuvering leads us up to the recent shift, with Sonu Singh joining the Samajwadi Party. His presence is a fascinating addition to the political landscape ahead of the forthcoming election in Sultanpur.
