2017 UP polls: Election countdown raking up political dust

With the crucial 2017 Uttar Pradesh polls only a few months away, the state is now witnessing the gradual build-up of the election scene and raking up of the political dust.

The dust would only increase as days’ advance and reach crescendo towards the final days, culminating in voting.

The embattled ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) led by its biggest mascot and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has already unveiled its much hyped 'Vikas Rath Yatra' from Lucknow on November 3.

A luxurious Mercedes bus has been customised as a chariot for Yadav, who would traverse across the state and directly connect with the masses, apart from propagating its flagship projects and scenes.

In the backdrop of the ongoing power struggle in SP, he is seeking votes in the name of the development projects under his regime. Interestingly, his Rath had broken down within minutes of the Yatra and took several days to be set right by Mercedes engineers.

On the inaugural day, Yadav had concluded his Yatra from Lucknow to Unnao district in his official car instead.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched its state-wide 'Parivartan Yatra' from the western UP district of Saharanpur on November 5 by party president Amit Shah. Four special 'Raths' have been prepared for the Yatras, which would travel to all the 403 assembly constituencies in the state in the weeks ahead.

Over the last few days, BJP has also organised big public rallies addressed by its top leaders, including Shah, union home minister Rajnath Singh, union minister Uma Bharti etc. BJP mascot and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also slated to address public meetings in the state. The BJP Yatras would culminate on December 24 with a big rally.

Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has rolled out its 'Bhaichara Sammelans' in the state. These meetings are being anchored by party general secretary and its Brahmin face Satish Chandra Mishra.

Mayawati has also addressed a series of rallies in UP, including Lucknow and more such events have been planned in days to come. The party is hoping to combine its dalit votes with the Muslims and Brahmins as a winning formula.

Congress' had already concluded its 'Khat Sabhas' across UP, which was led by party vice president Rahul Gandhi. The campaign was conceptualised by Congress' poll strategist Prashant Kishor and spanned a month starting September 6.

The 'Khat Sabhas' were designed to allow Rahul interact with farmers sitting on rustic 'charpoy'. Congress is hoping to expand its vote bank to include upper caste voters, apart from its traditional constituency of dalits and Muslims. To attract Brahmin electorate, Congress had already announced the candidature of former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit as its CM face in UP.