Polling for the final and seventh phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections covering 60 seats spread over 10 districts would be held tomorrow that would decide the fate of 962 candidates, including the Samajwadi Party’s Muslim face, Mr Mohammad Azam Khan.
The final phase would cover Bijnore, Moradabad, Bheem Nagar, Rampur, Jyotiba Phule Nagar, Badaun, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur and Lakhimpur Kheri, in which more than 1.82 crore voters are expected to exercise their franchise
Besides Mr Mohammad Azam Khan, who is contesting from Rampur, the fate of Minister in the Mayawati Government, Ms Omvati from the Nagina seat, the BSP MP Mr Jugal Kishore’s son, Mr Saurabh from Kasta, and the Rastriya Parivartan Dal head, Mr D.P. Yadav, considered a heavyweight from the Sahsawan seat, would be decided in this concluding phase.
The impact of the BJP MP from Aonla, Ms Maneka Gandhi, her son and BJP MP from Pilibhit, Mr Varun Gandhi, the Union Minister and MP from Dhaurara seat in Lakhimpur, Mr Jitin Prasad, and Congress MP, Mr Azharuddin, in their constituencies would be keenly watched by political observers.
In the 2007 assembly polls, out of 57 constituencies, the BSP had emerged the biggest party bagging 27 seats, while the SP and BJP got 17 and nine seats respectively.
While the Rashtriya Parivartan Dal (RPD) of DP Yadav got two seats, the Congress and others got one seat respectively.
After he was denied entry in the SP, Mr Yadav has fielded candidates from his own outfit. The SP has also put all its strength into increasing its tally in these districts.
The Rashtriya Lok Manch of Mr Amar Singh and local Rampur MP, Ms Jaya Prada’s influence, would be on test as they try to ensure the defeat of Mr Azam Khan on his home turf.
As far as the Congress is concerned, the impact of party General Secretary, Mr Rahul Gandhi, who addressed 211 rallies and conducted roadshows in 18 assembly constituencies between November 14 and February 29, including this region, would also be tested in this phase.