BASTI: Caste is believed to decide the fate of candidates at Basti Sadar seat of Basti which made significant contribution to the revolt of 1857 against the British rule. Locals said at least 200 freedom fighters were hanged by Britishers on a Peepal tree now called Chhwani Shaheed Smarak.
Being the centre point of Ayodhya on one hand and Gorakhpur on the other, the seat, which was known as Basti before delimitation in 2008, is seen as a place that reflects the sentiment ruling Purvanchal. A stronghold of Congress till 2002, political outcome here sends a deep message across Purvanchal.
