The Ballia Lok Sabha Constituency comes under the district by the same name. Considered a political hotbed in pre- and post-independent India, Ballia was the birthplace of the 8th Prime Minister of India, Chandra Shekhar. The Ballia seat is among the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh.
Ballia — The Land OF Mangal Pandey And Chittu Pandey
Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh was the home of freedom fighter Mangal Pandey, whose defiance of the British began India's struggle for freedom with the 1857 uprising. Due to its association with several freedom fighters, the area came to be known as "Baaghi Ballia (rebellious Ballia)".
In fact, the region briefly achieved from the British Raj for a few days in 1942 under the leadership of Sher-e-Ballia [Tiger of Ballia] Chittu Pandey. The region also actively participated in the Quit India Movement.
Chandra Shekhar's Ballia
The Ballia Lok Sabha constituency holds immense significance in the politics of Uttar Pradesh. It has been represented by prominent leaders, including former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar, and is famous for its political history and participation in the JP Andolan. The constituency has been a centre of political activity and has contributed significantly to the political landscape of India.
The Ballia Lok Sabha constituency was held for the longest time by Chandra Shekhar, who won the seat 8 times — first two terms in 1977 and 1980; and then 6 straight terms from 1989-2004.
Ballia Under BJP
Currently, the seat is held by BJP Kisan Morcha president and four-time MP Virendra Singh Mast. He retained the seat for the BJP, winning by a margin of over 15,519 votes against SP's Sanatan Pandey. Previously, the seat was held by the BJP's Bharat Singh, who trounced Chandra Shekhar's son Neeraj Shekhar in 2019. Neeraj Shekhar was a member of the Samajwadi Party back then. He joined the BJP in 2019.
Interestingly, despite Chandra Shekhar never being in the Samajwadi Party, Mulayam Singh Yadav never fielded a candidate against him in Ballia. It was only after Chandra Shekhar's death in 2007 that Neeraj was given an SP ticket from his father's constituency.
The Ballia Lok Sabha constituency has five assembly seats under it — Ballia Nagar, Phephana, and Bairia in Ballia district; Zahoorabad and Mohammadabad in Ghazipur district.
The district of Ballia has a total population of 3,239,774 as per the 2011 census. The official language spoken in the district is Hindi, with Urdu being an additional official language, and Bhojpuri as a regional language. The literacy rate in the district stands at 73.82%, and the sex ratio is 933.
Ballia's economy is diverse, with agriculture being the primary occupation of the residents. The district is known for its agricultural output and is strategically located to benefit from trade and commerce activities.