Maya slips into poll mode , others follow

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Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh are scheduled for 2012 but all major political parties have already slipped into the poll mode, giving rise to speculation about an early election in the state.
The ruling BSP has launched a massive exercise to prepare for the elections. Besides a party revamp, UP chief minister and BSP president Mayawati has set a definite time frame for completion of all projects initiated by her. The chief minister is now going out of her way to placate her dalit voters and is simultaneously keeping the upper caste brahmins in good humor too.
“Suddenly, the government is working in the fast-forward mode and this gives us a well that the chief minister may opt for elections next year. She has not said a word to us on this but the general feeling is that she is in a hurry to wrap up things,” admitted a senior BSP MLA.
Apparently, Ms Mayawati feels that the anti-incumbency factor would build up against her government and the situation would not be entirely in her favour by 2012.
Moreover, this will give time to the Congress to set its house in order and pose a challenge to the BSP.
With Ms Mayawati pulling out all stops to prepare for the elections, other political parties are also gearing up for the electoral battle.
The Samajwadi Party has also started the process of candidate selection and is short listing a panel of candidates for all Assembly segments. “We apprehend early elections and are therefore preparing for the situation. Our candidates are likely to be announced by September,” said party spokesman Rajendra Choudhury.
The Congress is also busy with interviews of prospective candidates and the party, this time, wants to declare its candidates well in advance, without waiting for rivals to go public with their lists.
“Ms Mayawati will call for elections sometime next year because she is nervous about her party’s declining popularity graph. We are not taking things lightly and are ready to deal with any surprises that Mayawati may throw at us,” said a senior UPCC leader.
The Bhartiya Janata Party, meanwhile, is lagging behind when it comes to poll preparedness. Newly appointed state BJP president Surya Pratap Shahi says, “We are aware that polls may be held next year, ahead of schedule, and we are also preparing for it. I am trying to familiarise myself with the situation and the decision will be taken at the appropriate time.”