Congress back in reckoning in UP

Akhilesh Tripathi

Lucknow: The formidable fight being put up by the Congress has rendered the contest triangular in around 40 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. The Bahujana Samaj Party which used to take the third position, is no longer considered a serious contender in majority of the constituencies.

This is mainly due to favourable noises being made by BSP supremo Mayawati betraying soft corner for the BJP. It is not difficult to perceive that Mayawati is facing pressure from the ED at the behest of the dispensation at the Centre and has gradually toned down her anti-BJP rhetoric.

Priyanka Vadra-Gandhi’s constant barnstorming during the last six months has considerably altered the Congress’ image and the party is headed for good showing.

The party is now taken as a serious contender in several constituencies across the State. Priyanka’s election meetings are now drawing crowds and her videos are going viral. Congress’s Pankhudi Pathak is giving a tough fight against BJP candidate Pankaj Singh, son of Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Noida, close to Delhi. Similarly Poonam Pandit, who became known following her stellar role in farmers’ protest is Congress candidate from Sutar in Bulandshahar district against nominees of SP and the BJP. Dr Manish Chouhan has been fielded by the party from Rae Bareli Sadar which is considered to be the traditional bastion of Congress in yore. He is facing Aditi Singh of the BJP who was elected on Congress ticket in 2017. It will be no surprise, if Manish trounces Aditi as his campaign is drawing huge crows. Another turncoat Rakesh Singh, elected MLA in 2017 on Congress, is now fielded by the BJP in Harchandpur seat in the Rae Bareli district.

He is facing Surendra Singh of Congress. SP’s Rahul Lodhi is also in the fray and giving the two a good fight.

Sanjay Singh of BJP is the party’s candidate in Amethi. This seat was hitherto held by his first wife Garima Singh. Sanjay Singh had married Ameeta Modi, wife of slain badminton player Syed Modi in 1990s. Ameeta too was elected from the seat earlier. Sanjay is facing formidable Congress candidate Ashish Shukla. But both wives of Sanjay Singh are keeping away from the electoral arena this time. SP’s candidate is Maharaji Devi, wife of Gayatri Prasad Prajapati. Congress has fielded strong candidates from Gauriganj, Jagadishpur and Salone, all in the Rae Bareli district. The Congress has fielded Asha Singh, the mother of the 2017 rape victim from the Unnao Seat.