Parties depend less on filmstars
At least three major parties — the Congress, the BSP and the Samajwadi Party — are not depending on filmstars to attract floating voters in the forthcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections which is a “do-or-die” battle for them.
This is because of the emergence of Mr Rahul Gandhi and Mr Akhilesh Yadav as star campaigners of the Congress and the SP, respectively, while the BSP supremo and chief minister Mayawati is leading the electoral battle from the front. “We are not depending on stars in the state which is politically sharp,” Congress insiders viewed.
In the last Assembly elections, Amitabh Bachchan had campaigned for the SP through an advertising campaign. Earlier also, he used to campaign for it on non-political platforms.
But this time, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav might be missing Mr Amar Singh, once known for his influence over Bollywood.
Interestingly, these three parties have launched the election campaign much before the election commission announced the poll schedule.
“Rahulji might have addressed meetings in over 60 Assembly constituencies,” an AICC official recalled.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would address meetings in the state which will show whether castes continue to influence voters or development, governance and anti-incumbency could bring some surprises in the electoral battle. Ms Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is expected to concentrate on Amethi and Rae Bareli — the Lok Sabha seats represented by Mr Rahul Gandhi and Mrs Sonia Gandhi. But if needed, she may address meetings in other parts of UP, they said.
The Congress may not involve non-Hindi speaking leaders in the campaign, including some Union ministers, but chief ministers like Sheila Dikshit, Ashok Gehlot and Bhupinder Singh Hooda would campaign for the party.
RJD supremo Lalu Pradad Yadav could campaign for the Samajwadi Party but the Congress can use LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan against the BSP in the election.
Meanwhile, the Congress hailed the announcement of Assembly poll schedule in UP and four other states, saying the exercise will again show that it is the only pan-Indian party.
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