Campaigning for the crucial bypolls to one lok Sabha and 11 Assembly seats, slated for September 13, has reached its peak with prestige of two main rivals Samajwadi Party and BJP at stake in this politically sensitive state.
The ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) and the BJP are contesting for all the seats, but in some Assembly seats the Congress is in fray. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is not contesting the by polls this time but have announced to support some of the Independent candidates.
All the Assembly seats except Rohania have been vacated by BJP.
SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav, who had vacated Mainpuri parliamentary seat after retaining Azamgarh, is camping in the region. He had addressed five rallies on Sunday and Monday and would address more rallies on Wednesday along with his son and UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
Tej Pratap Singh, grand nephew of the Mulayam Singh Yadav, is the candidate for Mainpuri seat, while BJP has given ticket to a local leader Prem Singh Shakya.
BJP too is going full steam Mainpuri with UP president laxmikant Bajpai and controversial MP Yogi Adityanath leading the campaign. Several other leaders of the BJP are reaching Mainpuri to lend support in the campaigning.
Another interesting fight would be witnessed in lucknow (east) where BJP leader lalji Tandon’s son Gopal Tandon is in fray. The BSP has extended support to an Independent candidate SP Singh. The lucknow (East) seat was vacated by Union Minister Kalraj Mishra.
Besides lucknow (East) seat, all eyes are on the Rohania Assembly segment, where Apna Dal’s president Krishna Patel is contesting election. She is supported by BJP. The seat is vacated by her daughter Anupriya Patel, who won the Mirzapur lok Sabha.
The four Assembly seats of Saharanpur (Sadar), Bijnore, Noida and Thakurdwara in Moradabad district in western parts of the state are communally surcharged where BJP and SP are in direct contest.
Two seats of Bundelkhand region Hamirpur and Charkhari are also witnessing a direct contest between SP and BJP while Nighasan Assembly seat in lakhimpuri Kheri district is witnessing a triangular contest. The two reserved Assembly seats of Sirathu in Kaushambi district and Balha in Bahriach district too are going for a three-cornered contest.