NOIDA: Construction of an international airport pitched as the alternative to the one in Delhi, a 1,000-acre film city and the BJP’s development plank are among factors that likely contributed to sitting MLA Dhirendra Singh’s poll victory in Jewar.
The BJP leader trounced his nearest rival Avtar Singh Bhadana of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) from the west UP constituency, Election Commission data showed on Thursday.
Residents are hopeful that these big-ticket initiatives will spur economic growth in the region.
“This place will see the fastest growth in the next few years. Land prices have soared in the last one year and youngsters who were earlier going to cities will get jobs here,” said Shailendra Singh of Rabupura village in the area.
“The local MLA gave his blood and sweat to bring this project here,” he said about Singh’s candidature.
Others indicated that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s push for development paved the way for Singh’s second term from the seat in Gautam Budh Nagar.
“The Yogi government needed the second term for the continuing the development streak of Jewar and other areas. The MLA went beyond his jurisdiction and got several infrastructure works done. He will now work with more energy,” said Nawal Singh, a resident of Ladpura village in the region.
The airport, the first phase of which is scheduled to open in 2024, is being built over 5,000 hectares for a cost of Rs 30,000 crore. It will be located around 40km from Noida and is meant to reduce the passenger burden on the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the project late last year and said the airport “will put Jewar on the international map”.
The BJP government in 2021 also announced the construction of a parallel infotainment city, along the lines of the industry in Mumbai, near Jewar. This project entails investment of Rs 10,000 crore and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath previously rolled out an open offer to the film fraternity to come to the state.
Additionally, voters in the area said they opted for Singh’s “clean image” and his “approachability”.
“Singh is our neighbour and a friend. He is always there for us. Whatever we have got, it is because of Singh’s efforts,” said 72-year-old Abdul Rehman, who gave up his land for the airport and now lives in a township in the area.
Apart from leading a successful poll campaign, the BJP MLA appeared to have dodged the controversy over legacy of ninth century ruler Mihir Bhoj.
In September 2021, a row was triggered after the caste name of Gurjar was removed from the plaque beneath the statue of King Bhoj at a college in Dadri, about 20km away from Jewar. Both the constituencies have a substantial Gurjar voter bank.
Singh’s opponent Bhadana — a four-time Member of Parliament and sitting MLA from Meerapur — took this as an opportunity to consolidate the Gurjar vote for the Samajwadi Party-RLD combine. The allies vowed to name the Jewar International Airport after King Bhoj and said they will install a “huge statue” of the 9th century ruler if they are voted to power in UP.
Still, it wasn’t to be so. Bhadana lost from Jewar by 56,315 votes. Singh on Thursday dedicated his victory to the people of Jewar. “They reposed faith in Yogi (Adityanath) ji’s good governance and the PM’s policies, which are framed keeping the last person standing in the queue in mind,” he said.
