by LUCKNOW: With SP chief Akhilesh Yadav set to contest from party pocket borough Karhal in Mainpuri, the upcoming UP assembly election is witnessing a marked trend of heavyweights heading back to their political backyards not just to win a seat, but also use it as a vantage point to influence a bigger constituency in the region.
This became evident in case of BJP and SP, which have turned the elections into a bipolar contest amidst BSP chief Mayawati making it clear that she would not contest and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi maintaining a discreet silence on joining the poll fray.
The trend caught up with BJP announcing the candidature of CM Yogi Adityanath from Gorakhpur (urban) and deputy CM Keshav Maurya from Sirathu (Kaushambi) more than a week ago.
While Yogi had been a five-time BJP MP from Gorakhpur until he took over reins of UP in 2017, Maurya won Sirathu for the saffron outfit for the first time in 2012 assembly polls before getting elected as an MP from Phulpur in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Both Yogi and Maurya are currently members of the UP legislative council. BJP sources said Yogi’s candidature from Gorakhpur could presumably have an influence in at least 50 assembly seats in the Purvanchal region.
This became evident in case of BJP and SP, which have turned the elections into a bipolar contest amidst BSP chief Mayawati making it clear that she would not contest and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi maintaining a discreet silence on joining the poll fray.
The trend caught up with BJP announcing the candidature of CM Yogi Adityanath from Gorakhpur (urban) and deputy CM Keshav Maurya from Sirathu (Kaushambi) more than a week ago.
While Yogi had been a five-time BJP MP from Gorakhpur until he took over reins of UP in 2017, Maurya won Sirathu for the saffron outfit for the first time in 2012 assembly polls before getting elected as an MP from Phulpur in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Both Yogi and Maurya are currently members of the UP legislative council. BJP sources said Yogi’s candidature from Gorakhpur could presumably have an influence in at least 50 assembly seats in the Purvanchal region.
