UP Elections: Is the Wind of Political Change Blowing in Kanpur?

Saood Bhai, who has been working in the leather industry for the last 20 years as a belt manufacturer, says, “The leather industry in Kanpur has collapsed; more than 200 tanneries have closed down, and others are working at 50% less than their capacity, causing not only loss of business but also unemployment which has grown immensely.”  Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh is known as an industrial city, and it significantly contributes to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state, but the COVID-19 pandemic has broken the back of its industry.

While unemployment has increased, those still working are getting only half of their salaries because there is not as much work available in factories as it used to be before the pandemic, says Saood Bhai. He adds that many of the labourers who became unemployed bought battery-run rickshaws and are now struggling to earn a livelihood.

Kanpur, which was once called the Manchester of Asia and considered an example of the country’s economic progress, is today facing the problems of industrial slowdown, unemployment, bad roads, dirt, water, and sewerage, among other things. On top of that, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Pollution Control Board are imposing strict restrictions in for “reducing pollution” which is hurting business. The tanneries were compelled to reduce their production by more than 50% for fear of lockdown by the authorities.

Akhtar Hussain, a leather trader from Kanpur, tells Newsclick, “A large number of tanneries has been closed down, and now, only big traders are able to run tanneries. Once, there used to be more than 400 tanneries in Kanpur’s Jajmau; now, the number of these tanneries has come down 55-56 only."

Akhtar further explains, “The small tanneries have stopped working and have given their premises on rent to the big tanneries or have started some other work. They don’t have enough money to buy raw skins from big meat companies and make leather. So they have left the job and now the leather industry is just a ground for the big players."

Akhtar says, “In the last seven years, the backbone of the leather industry has completely been broken, the biggest brunt of which has been borne by the dalit and Muslim communities.” Most of the workers in the tannery used to come from the dalit community. But due to the closure of work, they have returned to their villages, and their plight is ineffable."

According to Akhtar, unemployment has reached terrible levels in Kanpur. “The youth are unemployed and wandering in search of work. A huge crowd gathers at Labor Chowk, but the majority of the workers go back to their homes without getting any work,” he said.

Talking about the election environment in Kanpur, Akhtar says, “There is a tight fight between the Samajwadi Party-Rashtriya Janata Dal alliance and the BJP. All the parties have fielded strong candidates, and the results may surprise everyone."

Kanpur is a large district in terms of its population. According to the 2011 census, Kanpur district has a population of about 45 lakhs, with Muslims making up 15.73% and dalits a little over 15% of it. Kanpur district consists of three sub-divisions, three tehsils, ten sub-tehsils, 90 panchayat samiti, one municipal corporation, two municipalities, 557-gram panchayats, 909 revenue villages, and ten assembly constituencies. The election results here impact the politics of the entire state.

Siddharth Kashiwar, President of the Vaishy Mahasangathan and a coal trader, told Newsclick that he comes from a freedom fighters’ family and never thought that the democratic system of the state would become so bad that it would be difficult even to discuss the issues concerning the common people. “Our elders fought against slavery so that a free India could be built based on democratic values. But today, efforts are being made to make India a theocratic nation.”

He further says, “If you look at the entire election, there is no discussion on the issues of development, unemployment, education and health, because BJP leaders have turned the entire campaign towards religious polarisation. So it is difficult to say what the outcome will be.”

Siddharth reminds that “during the last election out of ten assembly seats in Kanpur, the SP and Congress could win only one seat because there was an electoral alliance between the two parties. But this time, it will not be right to say anything about the outcome as both parties are fighting separately. It is certainly there that there is a section that wants change, but the impact it will have remains to be seen.”

Abhimanyu Gupta, a Samajwadi Party candidate from Kidwai Nagar Legislative Assembly under Kanpur district, tells Newsclick that the people of Kanpur want change this time, and the SP is going to create history in the district. According to him, this time, the SP will win at least eight out of ten Vidhan Sabha seats.

Abhimanyu says, “People of Kanpur are fed up with the politics of hate, and they now want development, jobs, hospitals and business growth.” When asked what issues the SP is contesting the elections on, he says, “The industries in Kanpur are shutting down or production has come down, and there is no help from the government. This has a direct impact on the state's economic condition, and unemployment is also increasing immensely. Young people are worried, they want employment. The Samajwadi Party will extend all help to the business community, give employment; 300 units of electricity will be given for free and new hospitals will be built; women will be given a pension of Rs 1800, and 33% reservation will be ensured in all government posts for them."

He adds that “the agenda of the Samajwadi Party is very clear that the state should return to the path of progress that it had achieved under the Akhilesh Yadav government.” He exudes confidence as he says, "We will win and form the next government in the state.”

The question that arises is whether the SP-RLD alliance or the Congress will be able to reverse the massive victory of the BJP in the last elections in Kanpur. As Akhtar and Siddharth point out, the fight in all ten assembly seats of Kanpur is a close contest. Therefore, results here will be surprising for everyone.