Ketaki Singh, the BJP MLA from Bansdih, Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, is a familiar name in news cycles due to her often-provocative statements. Recent comments regarding Akhilesh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party leader and former Chief Minister of UP, have once again brought her into the spotlight. But before analyzing the latest controversy, let’s explore Ketaki Singh’s background and her political career.
Prior to her marriage, Ketaki Singh lived in the Durg district of Chhattisgarh. Her husband, Shant Swaroop Singh, holds a senior position in the Indian Railways. Her in-laws’ residence is located in Baliya Puram, Hanuman Nagar, in Durg city, and her parental home is just about 100 meters away. After marrying, Ketaki Singh began living in her husband’s ancestral village.
In the 2017 Assembly elections, Singh’s ticket was denied due to the BJP-SBSP alliance, prompting her to run as an independent. Though she lost, Ketaki Singh performed well, presenting a strong challenge to Ram Govind Chaudhary of the Samajwadi Party, despite not receiving a BJP ticket. She lost to Chaudhary by a mere 1,687 votes.
Later, Ketaki Singh rejoined the BJP and secured a victory from the Bansdih constituency in Ballia district in the 2022 Assembly elections. She defeated Ram Govind Chaudhary, the senior Samajwadi Party leader and former Leader of the Opposition, by a margin of 21,134 votes. It’s worth noting that she previously contested from Bansdih twice but was unsuccessful on both occasions.
Known for her bold pronouncements, Ketaki Singh is a dynamic BJP leader and the MLA representing the Bansdih constituency in the Ballia district. Her active engagement has boosted her popularity in the region. Her address in Bhojpuri during the budget session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly sparked significant discussion and was well-received.
Ketaki Singh’s statements regularly generate headlines. She has previously suggested that the government create separate medical wings for Muslims in medical colleges, as they might face difficulty in receiving treatment alongside others. She also expressed concerns about potential issues with Hindus and Muslims sharing the same treatment facilities. Furthermore, Singh threatened to set the local tehsil on fire in 2022 following a bulldozer action on the home of a poor individual in Ballia, a threat which went viral.
Her recent comments have reignited political tensions. She took a swipe at Akhilesh Yadav, implying that the Samajwadis lacked the decency to even mention returning certain ‘taps.’ She stated that while Yadav continually demands accountability from others, he has failed to account for his own ‘taps.’
Following these remarks, female members of the Samajwadi Party protested by surrounding Singh’s residence in her absence. They carried taps and chanted slogans against the MLA. Clashes occurred between SP workers and police during the demonstration, with several women being taken into police vehicles and later sent to the Eco Garden.
Neha Singh, the state vice-president of the SP Mahila Sabha, condemned Ketaki Singh for using derogatory language towards Akhilesh Yadav. She stated that Singh’s constant use of the phrase ‘tonti-tonti chor’ (tap-tap thief) signaled the BJP’s impending defeat in the 2027 Assembly elections.
