UP elections 2017: All political players wait eagerly for March 11 round

VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strenuous campaigning in his Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi has seen the spotlight move to the five assembly seats in the city, though they are among the 40 seats of seven districts which would go to polls in the last phase of assembly polls on March 8. Varanasi North, Varanasi South, Varanasi Cantt, Rohania and Sewapuri assembly seats would test Modi’s popularity.

This region spread across Varanasi, Ghazipur, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Chandauli, Jaunpur and Sonbhadra is equally important for all the three major players — the BJP, SP-Congress alliance and BSP. The SP and BSP won 23 and 5 seats, respectively, in this region in 2012 polls. The BJP won only 4 seats while Congress three.

Sonbhadra and Mirzapur are considered to be the Left-wing extremist-affected areas. It is a challenge for SP to repeat its own performance here, but BSP is looking at possible growth in its support among Muslim voters.

Top BJP leaders Rajnath Singh and Kalraj Mishra belong to the region. Manoj Sinha, Anupriya Patel and Mahendra Nath Pandey are Lok Sabha members from Ghazipur, Mirzapur and Chadauli seats, respectively.

Prominent SP leader OP Singh is trying his luck from the Ghazipur’s Jamania seat. His problem is BJP’s decision to field a Thakur candidate, Sunita Parikshit. Parikshit’s village has more than 10,000 votes and she could crack OP’s support base among the upper castes voters.

Another important candidate in this region is Sibgat Ullah Ansari, brother of controversial MLA Mukhtar Ansari, in Ghazipur’s Mohemmedabad seat. BJP candidate Alka Rai is allsettogive SibgathUllahatoughfight in view of the absence of SP candidate against her.

This seat was allotted to Congress under seat sharing arrangement with SP. SP-Congress alliance candidate is Janak Kushwaha. Om PrakashRajbhar, nationalpresidentof BJP’s ally Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party, is in the fray against BSP nominee Kalicharan Rajbhar in Ghazipur’s Jahurabadseat. So, Jahurabadwilltest Rajbhar’s popularity among his castemen.

Om Prakash’s fate depends on the BJP’s ability to transfer upper caste votes to him in this seat. BJP’s decision to ally with SBSP’s has so far showed positive results for in eastern UP. This phase is also important for Anupriya Patel’s Apna Dal.