There’s growing political buzz in Uttar Pradesh, especially in the Gosainganj Assembly constituency, where Abhay Singh and Khabbhu Tiwari are once again gearing up for a head-to-head showdown ahead of the 2027 state elections.
After the success of Abhay Singh’s “Run for Unity”, Khabbhu Tiwari has now raised his political voice with his own version of the event, scheduled for November 20, setting the stage for an early political rivalry between the two strongmen of the region. Both leaders are actively reaching out to voters, signaling that the 2027 election race has unofficially begun.
Abhay Singh’s Strategic Move
Abhay Singh, the sitting MLA from Gosainganj, made headlines during the 2024 Rajya Sabha elections when he defied the Samajwadi Party whip and voted in favor of the BJP candidate — a move that marked the beginning of his open rebellion against his former party.
Though it took some time for technical and political reasons, Abhay Singh has now aligned himself closely with the BJP. His successful organization of the recent “Run for Unity” event has been seen as both a show of strength and a signal to the BJP leadership that he deserves the party’s ticket for the upcoming election.
Abhay’s supporters see this as a bold step that strengthens his claim for the BJP nomination, while his detractors — particularly Khabbhu Tiwari’s camp — view it as a direct challenge to their dominance in the region.
Khabbhu Tiwari’s Countermove
Once close allies, Abhay Singh and Khabbhu Tiwari turned rivals in 2012, when both vied for control over the Gosainganj political landscape.
- In 2012, Abhay Singh (then SP candidate) defeated Khabbhu, who nonetheless polled an impressive 65,000 votes, proving his influence.
- In 2017, Khabbhu avenged his loss as a BJP candidate, narrowly defeating Abhay Singh.
- In 2022, Khabbhu lost his seat after a court order disqualified him, forcing the BJP to field his wife Aarti Tiwari, who narrowly lost by just 13,000 votes — but her tally of 92,784 votes reaffirmed Khabbhu’s continued hold on Gosainganj politics.
After being released from jail 18 months ago, Khabbhu Tiwari has been rebuilding his political base, playing a key role in the Milkipur by-election earlier this year, which earned him appreciation from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Now, Khabbhu is assertively claiming the BJP ticket from Gosainganj, positioning his own “Run for Unity” as a response to Abhay Singh’s recent show of strength.
BJP Leadership Keeps Its Distance — For Now
Both Abhay and Khabbhu have organized their respective “Run for Unity” events under the BJP’s larger campaign commemorating Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s birth anniversary.
Interestingly, the BJP leadership has maintained a neutral stance, offering quiet support to both events. This neutrality is being seen as a test of ground strength — a way to assess which of the two leaders commands greater local influence and deserves the ticket for 2027.
The Political Stakes in Gosainganj
The Gosainganj constituency, located near Ayodhya, has always been politically high-voltage — blending regional pride, religious sentiment, and personal rivalries.
As the 2027 Assembly elections draw closer, both Abhay Singh and Khabbhu Tiwari are leaving no stone unturned. Their competing “Unity Runs” are more than symbolic events — they’re political power shows, designed to impress both voters and the BJP’s top brass.
While Abhay Singh’s recent success has energized his supporters, Khabbhu’s comeback strategy and long-standing grassroots network make the contest wide open.
For now, all eyes in Ayodhya district are on Gosainganj — where two heavyweight rivals are once again on a collision course in what could become one of Uttar Pradesh’s most closely watched election battles of 2027.
