In the politics of Uttar Pradesh, former minister and powerful leader Amarmani Tripathi is once again at the center of discussion. His growing closeness with Congress leaders before the 2027 assembly elections has intensified the stir in the politics of Purvanchal. From welcoming Congress leaders at Gorakhpur airport to his presence in the Congress meeting in Maharajganj, speculations are being made about Amarmani Tripathi's return to his old party Congress after almost 30 years. However, his formal joining in Congress has not been announced yet.
Congress national secretary and Purvanchal in-charge Abhishek Dutt and Congress national spokesperson Supriya Shrinet had reached Purvanchal on an organizational tour on 9 September. Amarmani Tripathi was also present to welcome the Congress leaders at Gorakhpur Airport. After this he also attended the Congress meeting held in Maharajganj. His meeting with Congress leaders and his presence in the party meeting are being linked to his possible return to Congress. Amarmani's son and former MLA Amanmani Tripathi has already joined Congress in March 2024. In such a situation, the discussion about father's return to Congress has further intensified the speculations regarding the political equations of Purvanchal.
Amarmani's political journey
Amarmani Tripathi started his political journey from Congress. In 1989, he became MLA for the first time on Congress ticket. However, he had to face defeat in the 1991 assembly elections. After this he left Congress and continued to contest elections from different parties. Contesting elections on Bahujan Samaj Party ticket in 1996 and Samajwadi Party ticket in 2002 and 2007, he won three consecutive elections. Later his son Amanmani Tripathi also entered electoral politics. Nautanwa and surrounding areas of Maharajganj have been considered the strong political area of the Tripathi family for a long time.
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Announcement to remove himself from Farenda and son from Nautanwa
Amarmani Tripathi had recently made a big announcement regarding the 2027 assembly elections. He had talked about contesting the elections himself from Farenda assembly seat of Maharajganj district and fielding his son Amanmani Tripathi from Nautanwa seat. In the Jan Samvad programme, Amarmani had talked about contesting the elections citing his long political association. His son Amanmani has also appealed to contest in support of his father. However, at that time both of them did not clarify on which political party's ticket they would contest the elections.
Congress also faces a big challenge on Farenda seat
If Amarmani returns to Congress, a big political question may arise before the party regarding the ticket. Presently Virendra Chaudhary of Congress is the MLA from Farenda Assembly seat. Virendra Chaudhary is a prominent face among the current Congress MLAs in Gorakhpur-Basti division. In such a situation, it will not be an easy decision for Congress to field Amarmani Tripathi in place of the sitting MLA. On the other hand, Samajwadi Party is also considered to have a strong support base in Nautanwa seat. If the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance continues in 2027, Amanmani may have to wait for the alliance's seat distribution for the Congress ticket from Nautanwa.
Legal complications over Amarmani contesting elections
Legal questions regarding Amarmani Tripathi contesting the elections himself are also important. He has been convicted in the murder case of poetess Madhumita Shukla and has been sentenced to life imprisonment. He got premature release from prison in 2023 on the grounds of good conduct, but his sentence has not been commuted. For this reason, according to legal experts, questions may arise on his eligibility to contest elections. This is the reason that along with his election claim from Farenda, there is also a discussion about which face Congress will field in the end.
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Will the equations of Purvanchal change if Congress returns?
Now after almost three decades, Amarmani's name is again being associated with Congress. His presence with Congress leaders, attending the Maharajganj meeting and his announcement to contest elections from Farenda in 2027, all three incidents have fueled discussions about his possible political comeback. At present the biggest question is whether Congress will actually include Amarmani Tripathi in its fold and if it happens then how will the ticket from Farenda be decided. Amanmani is already in Congress. In such a situation, if both father and son contest elections with Congress, then the 2027 contest on Maharajganj, Nautanwa and surrounding seats can become more interesting.