With VIPs in fray, Uttar Pradesh politics heats up

Lucknow: The political cauldron in Uttar Pradesh is boiling with excitement. The state that sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha will, this time, decide the future of national politics in ways more than one.

Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the hub of all electoral and political activities in this season, apart from being “highly sensitive” from the security point of view too.
The state already has president of two national parties, four prime ministerial aspirants and a strong dose of glamour in the fray all of which is bound to keep the eyeballs fixed in UP.

The presidents of two national parties, Congress and BJP, are contesting from Uttar Pradesh. The national president of Rashtriya Lok Dal, Choudhury Ajit Singh and Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav are also in the fray.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi will be seeking re-election from Rae Bareli and remains largely unchallenged in her bastion. Her election, so far, is being seen as a mere formality.

BJP president Rajnath Singh is contesting from Lucknow which was earlier considered a safe seta for the BJP. However, in view of changing equations within the

BJP and factionalism in the party, the going may not be smooth for the BJP president. Besides, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who had ranked second in the 2009 elections, is proving to be a formidable opponent.

Uttar Pradesh also has four prime ministerial aspirants in the fray. Mr Narendra Modi of BJP is preparing for a high-profile contest from Varanasi, which could be termed as alien territory for him. The party is confident of him riding high on the Modi wave.