Varanasi in spotlight as UP polls end on March 8

Modi has put in an unprecedented level of canvassing in this phase which has the least number of seats going to polls, but an intensive campaign by rival leaders Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav of SP and his ally Rahul Gandhi of the Congress has raised the stakes for them. 

The BJP, which is hopeful of capturing power in the state after 15 years in the wilderness, virtually functioned out of the holy city as its chief Amit Shah and other top party leaders shifted their base here weeks ahead of the polls. But it has met a formidable challenger in the SP-Congress alliance and a massive road show by Yadav and Gandhi through the heart of the city has sparked some concerns in the saffron camp. Political observers believe that such a keen contest and campaigning should result in a relatively high polling percentage.

As per recent reports coming in regarding the terror siege in Lucknow’s Thakurganj area, senior police officials have confirmed that the entire operation will be wrapped up shortly. So far one of the terrorists has been shot dead, but the ATS is still searching for evidence. An official announcement by senior officials is expected in a short while. 

The police force headed by ATS Aseem Arun are involved in the ongoing operation. More than 20 commandos are also involved in the operation along with other security personnel. The police suspect that one of the terrorists named Saifullah is linked to the Islamic State (IS). Earlier on Tuesday, the ATS, based on ‘concrete’ information from intelligence, had gone to apprehend Saifullah, who is also suspected of being involved in the train blast that took place in Shajapur district of Madhya Pradesh, from a house in Haji colony of Thakurganj area when he suddenly opened fire on the police team.