LUCKNOW, March 19 -- The controversy over 'Neja mela' in Sambhal district has turned the focus on Syed Salar Masud Ghazi, the nephew of foreign invader Mahmud Ghaznavi, and medieval period warrior Maharaja Suheldev.

In the successive Lok Sabha elections of 2014, 2019 and 2024 as well as assembly elections of 2017 and 2022, the BJP has played the victory of Maharaja Suheldev over Syed Ghazi to mobilise the support of OBC and Dalit voters who consider Maharaja Suheldev their icon.

Both Suheldev and Syed Ghazi are again in limelight with the intensification of the tussle between the BJP-led NDA and SP-led INDIA bloc to rally the support of the OBC and Dalit communities in the run-up to the 2027 assembly election.

The Sambhal district admi...