Even as the poll fervour picks up in lucknow, one constituency that has generated great interest among the people is the lucknow Cantt Vidhan Sabha seat and the main reason for this is that it is from here that Mulayam Singh Yadav’s daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav is contesting for the first time on the Samajwadi Party (SP) ticket.
Also, it is the constituency from where former Congress leader Rita Bahuguna Joshi — the sitting MlA — is contesting on the BJP ticket the party she joined recently after India’s oldest party denied her the ticket.
There is also a third contestant in Yogesh Dixit who is debuting from this constituency from the Bahujan Samaj Party and he is being touted by many as the dark horse.
The constituency has traditionally been a stronghold of the Indian National Congress. Incidentally the Congress has not fielded any candidate from this constituency this year after forming an alliance with the SP.
All told, candidates have been canvassing to win the hearts and minds of the voters. Aparna has taken out padyatras and visited colleges and met with the residents of the main wards in the constituency, including the lucknow Cant, Sadar, Top Khana Bazar, lal Kurti, Chotti lal Kurti, Baniya Bazar and Kasaiabada.
A ground survey of the constituency revealed that the voters are for development.
An approximate picture of the caste and religion profile given by the candidates and known social groups is that the area has nearly 1 lakh SC/ ST, 80,000 Brahmins which have roughly 17,000 hill Brahmins, 50,000 Sikhs, Punjabis and Sindhis and over 15,000 Muslims.
Sources said Muslim voters are sympathetic to SP, BSP. The Hindu votes appear to be divided between BJP and SP. Ninety five per cent of the Sikh vote is going to the SP after Basant Singh Ramoowalia expressed support to the party.
Even as all eyes are on the two women candidates, Yogesh Dixit from the BSP said he will be the dark horse who will emerge as the winner. “I will get entire SC/ST votes. I will also get the support from the local Brahmins and Muslims. The local BJP party members are not keen on supporting Rita Bahuguna because she has switched parties.” he added.