Polling for the fourth phase of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections covering 56 seats spread over 11 districts would be held tomorrow that would decide the fate of three ministers, 32 sitting MLAs and 12 former ministers.
More than 1.74 crore voters are expected to cast their votes to seal the fate of 967 candidates in the polling to be held in Hardoi, Unnao, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Farukkhabad, CSM Nagar, Kannauj, Banda, Chitrakoot, Fatehpur and Pratapgarh.
Stakes are high for ruling BSP, Congress, SP and the BJP in the no-holds barred fight for the 403 Assembly seats. This phase has 103 candidates with criminal cases pending against them, besides 139 ‘crorepatis’.
The fourth phase would test the fate of several stalwarts and heavyweights including three ministers, 32 sitting MLAs, 12 former ministers, national Vice-President of BJP, Mr Kalraj Mishra, and Congress state President, Mr Rita Bahuguna Joshi.
In this phase, senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Mr Kalraj Mishra, is making his debut in electoral politics from Lucknow east seat, whereas UPPCC president, Mr Rita Bahuguna Joshi, is in the fray from Lucknow Cant seat.
This phase would also test the luck of Ms Louis Khurshid, wife of Union Law Minister, Mr Salman Khurshid, from Farukkhabad Sadar seat. Congress Legislative Party leader, Mr Pramod Tiwari, is seeking re-run from his traditional Rampur Khas seat in Pratapgarh district.
Among ministers, while the Urban Development Minister, Mr Nakul Dubey, has shifted to Bakshi ka Talab seat, the Science and Technology Minister, Mr Abdul Mannan, is re-contesting from Sandila seat.
The Chairman of Housing and Development Board, Mr Achche Lal Nishad, is in the fray from Tindwari and the Chairman of UP Agro, Mr Brijmohan Singh Kushwaha, from Baberu seat.
Senior BJP leader and MP Lalji Tandon’s son, Mr Ahustosh Tandon alias Gopalji, is also making his debut from Lucknow north seat.
Sitting BSP MLA and son of former minister, Mr Naresh Agarwal, Mr Nitin Agarwal, is again contesting from Hardoi Sadar seat but on SP ticket this time.
Synonymous with empowerment of women in Bundelkhan region and leader of Gulabi gang, Mr Sampat Pal, would also be in the fray as Congress candidate.
Independent candidate from Rae Bareli Sadar seat Mr Akhilesh Singh would be contesting as Peace Party candidate, whereas heavyweight and sitting MLA, Mr Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya, is testing his luck from Kunda seat.
Mr Veer Singh, son of slain dacoit Daddua, is contesting for Karvi seat in Chitrakoot as SP nominee.