Agra, April 24 (IANS) Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party’s bete noire Kalyan Singh may find the going tough in Etah constituency where he is contesting as an independent candidate to “teach BJP a lesson”.
Political analysts say that Varun Gandhi’s stay at Etah jail has changed the political scenario to BJP’s advantage and even Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s support may not be enough for Kalyan Singh.

Varun was imprisoned last month for his alleged hate speeches in his Pilibhit constituency in the state.

“Mulayam Singh Yadav could benefit from his support base, the Lodh Rajputs, in Mainpuri and other neighbouring districts including Agra. How Kalyan Singh will gain from Mulayam’s support is a mystery that would be resolved only after the polls,” said Manoj Singh, a BJP activist in Etah.

Etah is nearly 40 km from here and goes to polls May 7.

The muslims in the region have not welcomed Samajwadi Party’s new found friendship with Kalyan Singh and this could go in favour of the Congress, according to Afzal, a journalist based in Agra.

Kalyan Singh led the BJP government in the state in early 1990s and was the chief minister when Babri Masjid was razed in 1992. He later fell out with the party and parted ways.

Nasir Husain, a muslim leader, said: “Indications are that Mulayam may get a shock of his life. The muslim community is now more or less clear about whose government they want at the centre. If they want Manmohan Singh back (as prime minister) then what is the point in supporting Mulayam? It would be better to vote directly for the Congress candidate.”

Meanwhile, BJP strategists are being accused for fielding two more independents from Etah with the same name Kalyan Singh.

“The voters will now have a choice of three Kalyan Singhs and easily there could be a large number of voters who would goof up to the disadvantage of Kalyan Singh,” says Rakesh Dixit, a shop keeper. All three candidates are from Lodh community.

But Kalyan Singh supporters are putting up a brave face and seem determined to harm BJP at the hustings May 7, but a combination of factors right now seems to go against Kalyan Singh, who according to his detractors will get neither “Ram nor Rahim”.