How easy will Gorakhpur be for BJP candidate Ravi Kishan?

After weeks of speculation and uncertainty, the BJP named actor Ravi Kishan Shukla as its candidate for the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh. The choice followed long deliberation in a seat once seen as an unbreakable party stronghold that had become one of its most puzzling in recent times.

The by-election setback

For nearly three decades the seat was held by the head of the Gorakshpeeth. After Yogi Adityanath became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2017, the BJP lost Gorakhpur in the by-election: Nishad Party leader Pravin Nishad, contesting on the Samajwadi Party ticket, defeated BJP candidate Upendra Dutt Shukla. The defeat was seen as a setback for both the party and Adityanath, who said at the time that the seat was lost because of overconfidence. Low turnout and the opposition’s caste arithmetic were among the reasons cited.

Shifting alliances

The BJP then worked to win over the Nishad community, estimated at about three and a half lakh people in the constituency. It brought former MLA Rajmata Nishad and son Amarendra Nishad over from the SP. Then, in a sudden development, the tie with the SP-BSP combine snapped and an alliance with the BJP was struck within 24 hours; days later Pravin Nishad, described as the region’s second-tallest leader, also moved to the BJP. He was given the ticket from the neighbouring Khalilabad seat, while Amarendra Nishad, who told supporters Adityanath had promised him a ticket, got nothing. Upendra Dutt Shukla’s backers had argued he deserved the ticket to keep the Brahmin community, with about three lakh votes, on side.

The candidate and the challenges

Ravi Kishan had reportedly wanted a ticket from Jaunpur, where he once contested on a Congress ticket. A senior party official said the actor would attract young voters and Brahmin votes and could raise turnout. The party also has to explain to its workers, some unhappy for a month, why an actor was picked over a party worker. Party office-bearers said matters would be settled within two to three days.

See also: Bharatiya Janata Party and constituencies

Originally published on 17 April 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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