Polling for the 15 seats in the crucial fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh begins on Wednesday.
More than 2.5 crore electorate, including 1.37 crore male and 1.14 crore female will decide the fate of 243 candidates, including two scions of Nehru-Gandhi family, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and BJP National Secretary Varun Gandhi.
This phase is also crucial for Congress as of 15 seats spread over 17 districts, seven were won by the party in 2009 polls while five seats went to BSP and SP had won three.
The BJP which could not open account in these 15 seats, this time is confident of turning the tide in its favour.
The campaigning was marked by mighty show by both Congress and BJP, with Rahul's sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra coming to the fore for her brother in Amethi, even as BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi entered the Congress scion's turf to counter the family effect.
Seats where polling would be held on May 7, include Amethi, Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Faizabad, Gonda, Bahraich, Shravasti, Phoolpur, Ambedkarnagar, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Bhadohi, Kaushambi, Allahabad and Kaisarganj.
Besides grandsons of former PM Indira Gandhi - Rahul and Varun contesting from adjacent Amethi and Sultanpur seats, this phase would also decide fate of a number of stalwarts, including Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma (Gonda) and cricketer-turned-politician Mohd Kaif (Phulpur).
Congress state president Nirmal Khatri (Faizabad), poet-turned-politician Kumar Vishwas, and "bahu" of tinsel town and BJP Rajya Sabha member Smriti Irani, are also in the fray.
In Amethi, while Vishwas is banking on the power of "aam aadmi", Irani is trying to cash in on Modi wave and by highlighting "lack of development" in Rahul's 10 year regime as MP.
As Congress star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi campaigned extensively for her brother Rahul - holding meetings and roadshow, the Congress Vice-President himself undertook a whirlwind tour of his constituency and attempted to strike an emotional chord with the electorate.
Beni Prasad Verma is seeking a second term from Gonda. The Congress leader, who had at times put leaders of his own party to embarrassment, is said to be facing a stiff resistance from BJP and SP candidates.
Congress' Nirmal Khatri will also face an uphill task to retain his seat from Faizabad. BJP's Varun Gandhi has shifted his base from Pilibhit, from where he was elected last time, to Sultanpur which is adjacent to his cousin Rahul's Amethi constituency.
Congress has pitted Amita Singh, wife of sitting Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, in Sultanpur against Varun. India's former international cricketer, Mohd Kaif will not find it easy making his Lok Sabha debut from Phulpur constituency.
The Election Commission (EC) has ordered the deployment of more security personnel for the fifth phase, officials said.
With several incidents of booth capturing in the third and fourth rounds of balloting in the state and apprehensions about further rigging by major political parties, the EC has directed that 300 companies of central forces will oversee the May 7 election in the state.
Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha has asked for enhanced security cover at all the polling stations at a meeting held with the security agencies, a senior official said.
More security personnel are now available for the remaining two phases of election in the state as in most parts of the country, the polls are over. The EC can now use them optimally, DIG A. Satish Ganesh said.
With some seats being located in the naxal affected regions of the eastern Uttar Pradesh in the May 7 polls, more security cover is provided to the polling officials on duty, Ganesh said.
Many opposition leaders, including BJP general secretary Amit Shah and BSP chief Mayawati were anxious of the ruling Samajwadi Party over using muscle power to rig the polls. They have demanded deployment of more central forces during the remaining phases of the election May 7 and 12.
Comments
0 comment