Ketaki Singh, the BJP MLA representing Bansdih in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, is known for her frequent appearances in the news due to her controversial statements. She is again a topic of discussion, having recently made remarks about Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, that have sparked controversy. Before analyzing her latest comments, let’s delve into Ketaki Singh’s background and her political journey.
Before her marriage, Ketaki Singh resided in the Durg district of Chhattisgarh. Her husband, Shant Swaroop Singh, holds a senior position within the Indian Railways. Her in-laws’ house is located in Baliya Puram, Hanuman Nagar, Durg city, with her parental home situated approximately 100 meters away. After getting married, Ketaki began living in her husband’s ancestral village.
In the 2017 assembly elections, Singh’s ticket was denied due to the alliance between the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) and the BJP, which led her to contest as an independent candidate. Although she faced defeat, Ketaki Singh performed admirably. Despite not receiving a BJP ticket, she presented a strong challenge to Ram Govind Chaudhary of the Samajwadi Party while running independently. In this election, she lost to Ram Govind Chaudhary by a mere 1,687 votes.
Ketaki Singh rejoined the BJP and secured a victory from the Bansdih assembly seat in the Ballia district during the 2022 assembly elections. In this election, she defeated Ram Govind Chaudhary, a senior Samajwadi Party leader and former Leader of the Opposition. Singh defeated Chaudhary by a margin of 21,134 votes. It’s worth noting that prior to this, she had contested from Bansdih twice, but was unsuccessful both times.
Ketaki Singh is a dynamic BJP leader and the MLA from the Bansdih assembly seat in the Ballia district. She is recognized for her candid statements and has gained popularity in her constituency through her active involvement. She delivered a speech in Bhojpuri during the budget session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, which garnered significant attention and was well-received.
Ketaki Singh’s statements often make headlines. She previously suggested that the government should establish separate medical wings for Muslims in medical colleges, as they might face difficulties in receiving treatment alongside others. She also expressed concerns about potential issues with Hindus and Muslims sharing the same treatment facilities. Additionally, Singh threatened to set the local tehsil on fire in 2022 after a bulldozer action against a poor individual’s home in Ballia. This threat was widely circulated on social media.
Recently, she made comments that have again stirred political tensions. She mocked Akhilesh Yadav, alleging that the Samajwadis lacked shame for not even mentioning the return of certain ‘taps.’ Singh stated that while Yadav consistently demands accounts from others, he has not provided an account of his own ‘taps.’
Following these remarks, female workers of the Samajwadi Party protested, surrounding Singh’s residence in her absence. They carried taps and chanted slogans against the MLA. Clashes between SP workers and police occurred during the demonstration. Many women were reportedly taken into police vehicles and later sent to the Eco Garden.
Neha Singh, the state vice-president of the SP Mahila Sabha, criticized Ketaki Singh for using derogatory language towards Akhilesh Yadav. She stated that the constant use of the phrase ‘tonti-tonti chor’ (tap-tap thief) by Singh indicated that the BJP’s defeat in the upcoming 2027 assembly elections was inevitable.