3 ex-CMs, 6 Union ministers face ballot battle today

The fate of three former chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, half a dozen Union ministers and a dozen GenNext politicians will be decided tomorrow in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections when 85 constituencies will go to the polls over eight states and union territories. This phase will complete elections in 457 constituencies with just 86 left in a house of 545, two seats being reserved for Anglo-Indians.

The penultimate phase will also see the biggest chunk of seats in UP going to the polls so far. The state government is considering this round as the most sensitive, with as many as 185 companies of central forces are be deployed. Samajwadi Party supremo and former chief minister Mulayam Singh has a maximum number of 8 sitting MPs in this phase. This time, he is facing a tough challenge in this region as four of his sitting MPs have deserted him and former chief minister Kalyan Singh, who is contesting as an independent supported by his party, is proving to be a liability more than an asset.

While Mulayam Singh Yadav is contesting from Mainpuri, Ferozabad and Kannauj will decide the fate of his son Akhilesh, who is contesting from both the seats.

Rajnath Singh, another former chief minister of UP and the BJP’s national president, is knocking the doors of Parliament from Ghaziabad.

This apart, all the seven seats in Delhi are going to the polls tomorrow. With all 25 seats of Rajasthan also set for elections, the presence of young candidates like Sachin Pilot (contesting on Congress ticket from Ajmer) and Manavendra Singh (BJP, from Barmer) promises to usher in younger leaders in the Lok Sabha.