FAZILNAGAR: It is an election of prestige in Fazilnagar. While on one hand, the reputation of turncoat and former minister in BJP government Swami Prasad Maurya is at stake as he eyes to enter the state assembly for the sixth time, the ruling BJP has made it a matter of pride after Maurya's 'betrayal'.
Tucked along the main highway, Fazilnagar is a small peri-urban area of Kushinagar. Having a population of over 5.5 lakh, it is home to 3.77 lakh voters who have their clear caste loyalties, but a confused mind when it comes to caste-versus-development politics. "It is a clear BJP vs SP contest here. My choice is clear as I belong to Swami Prasad Maurya's community, but then the BJP government has done a lot for the region," remarked Rakesh Kumar, a shopkeeper in the Babuganj market area of Fazilnagar.
