The fight for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh panchayat elections is becoming more intense by the day as after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Shiv Sena of Maharashtra is all set to try its luck in the rural local bodies polls.

The Shiv Sena has sought applications from all the districts for selection of candidates. Earlier, the AAP had announced to contest the panchayat elections in Uttar Pradesh.

The panchayat elections are being considered as a semi-final for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls due in 2022. With an eye on the next assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, various political parties have stepped up their preparations for the panchayat polls. The new rivals are joining the fray in Uttar Pradesh.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is up against the Samajwadi Party, the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Congress. The arrival of new rivals in the form of AAP and Shiv Sena makes the UP panchayat elections even more interesting.

The Shiv Sena state unit held a meeting at the party’s state office to review preparations of the panchayat elections in the state.

Shiv Sena’s state deputy chief Sanjay Dwivedi said the party was preparing for the panchayat elections with the local leaders hitting the ground and district-wise reviewers were being appointed for the rural body polls.

“Applications are being sought from candidates from all districts,” Dwivedi said, adding that a Shiv Sena delegation would meet the top leaders of the organisation in Maharashtra next week to inform them about the preparations for the panchayat election.

The AAP has also announced to field candidates on all seats in the Uttar Pradesh panchayat elections. AAP state president Sabhajit Singh said the party would contest the panchayat elections in UP on the issues of electricity, basic needs and rural development.

Singh said the AAP had so far received 500 applications from across the state.

He said district committees had been formed for election campaigns based on the core issues.

Samajwadi Party, BJP’s major rival with a strong presence in panchayats, has welcomed the new parties joining the fray.

SP spokesperson Rajendra Chowdhary said the entry of the new parties in the UP panchayat elections would strengthen the fight.

“There will be more focus on issues,” he said, adding that the BJP should not use money power and government machinery in the panchayat polls.