UP polls: First phase of campaigning ends today

It’s the final day of campaigning today before the first phase of the crucial assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh begins on February 8. 55 assembly seats across 10 districts in UP will witness voting in the first phase. All forms of electioneering will conclude in these constituencies today evening in line with the Election Commission’s model code of conduct.

Hence, all political parties would be keen to make the most of the last few hours before the model code kicks in. Accordingly, a number of rallies by top leaders are lined up for the day. While Rahul Gandhi will make one final appeal to the voters for the Congress through a press conference in Varanasi, Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati is scheduled to address rallies in Kushinagar and Gorakhpur.

Both political parties have been engaged in a tough duel in the lead up to the polls as part of the a large four-cornered contest that also has the Samajwadi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the other two key players.

The polls especially would be a major test for the Congress what with Rahul Gandhi’s high-voltage campaign in the state. The 40-year-old Gandhi scion has criss-crossed the entire state in the last one year, assiduously working towards reviving the party’s lost fortunes.

The Congress had won eight Lok Sabha seats out of the 22 in in 2009 in same constituencies that go to polls on Wednesday. With Congress emerging as the main challenger to the ruling BSP, many have linked the poll results – win or loss – to Rahul Gandhi’s electoral credibility.

But this notion of make-or-break for Rahul was dismissed by his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is also campaigning in the state in the family pocket boroughs of Amethi and Rae Bareli.

It’s not a matter of pride for Rahul to win this election. You already have given your love and affection to Rahul. That matters even more,” she said at a rally in Amethi yesterday.