High-decibel campaign for Ph-III UP polls draws to close

The 12 districts figuring in the third phase of polling are Farrukhabad, Hardoi, Kannauj, Mainpuri, Etawah, Auraiya, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur, Unnao, Lucknow, Barabanki and Sitapur.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah led the saffron brigade, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati criss-crossed the constituencies where the stakes of their party are high.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was in the vanguard, slamming Modi for his note ban decision and accusing him of betraying people with his achchey din promise.

Modi and Shah on the other hand lashed out at the ruling Samajwadi Party on issues of law and order and corruption in the state.

The Prime Minister repeatedly sought to puncture Akhileshs "kaam bolta hai" slogan by stating it was the SP leaders "karnama" (misdeed) which spoke.

However, ducking all brickbats hurled at him, Akhilesh went ahead tom-tomming his development schemes and welfare measures.

He said after the turnout trend of first two phases, the blood pressure of Opposition has shot up.

In a bid to woo minority voters, he also tried to attack Mayawati stating, "She cannot be trusted. She can even join hands with BJP again to form next government."

The BSP supremo, however, clarified in her speeches that "she will prefer to sit in the Opposition instead of joining hands with anyone" while urging minority voters to back her party.

Her refrain was deterioration in law and order and plight of women who felt insecure. In the 2012 Assembly polls, SP had won 55 of these 69 seats, while BSP, BJP and Congress secured just 6, 5 and 2 respectively. One seat went to an Independent.

Another highlight of electioneering for the third phase 

was appearance of SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav on the campaign trail. 

After skipping constituencies falling in the first two phases, he campaigned for brother Shivpal Singh and daughter- in-law Aparna Yadav, but preferred not to seek votes for others. He is said to be perturbed over SP forming a coalition with Congress. 

Prominent among those whose prestige will be at stake is Nitin Agarwal, son of SP leader Naresh Agarwal, BSP turncoat Brijesh Pathak from Lucknow (Central) on BJP ticket and Congress turncoat Rita Bahuguna Joshi from Lucknow Cant who is pitted against Aparna. 

Shivpal too is a key figure in this round. He is contesting from Jaswant Nagar seat. 

Congress leader P L Punia's son Tanuj Punia is trying his luck from Jaidpur seat in Barabanki. 

Besides, BJP will have the additional challenge to fare well in Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's Lok Sabha seat -- Lucknow. 

This phase includes Etawah, the native place of Akhilesh and districts like Mainpuri, where Tej Pratap Yadav is an SP MP. From Kannauj Dimple Yadav, wife of the chief minister is MP. 

A total of 826 candidates are in fray, whose fate will be decided by 2.41 crore voters, including 1.10 crore women and 1,026 belonging to third gender category. 

While the maximum number of 21 candidates are in Etawah, minimum of three candidates are in Haidergarh (Barabanki). Lucknow West and Central have 17 candidates each. 

There will be 25,603 polling booths in this phase. 

The next four phases of polling will be held on February 23, 27 and on March 4 and 8. Counting of votes will take place on March 11.