With 89 seats up for grabs in the last two phases of polling in Uttar Pradesh, the focus has now shifted to the Poorvanchal (eastern) region of the state.
All the major players — the BJP, BSP and the Congress-Samajwadi Party (SP) alliance — have rushed their senior leaders to the region to campaign there.
Several senior Union ministers and BJP MPs and office-bearers, including national president Amit Shah, have been extensively campaigning in eastern Uttar Pradesh districts.
State BJP sources here said that over a hundred party leaders were camping in different districts of Poorvanchal to canvass for party nominees. Incidentally, a large number of seats in this region is being contested by BJP’s alliance partners Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party and Apna Dal.
SP sources said that senior leaders from western Uttar Pradesh had been sent to Poorvanchal to help in campaigning. Significantly, those sent to the region have been advised to especially focus on their own castes.
Senior BSP leaders have also fanned out in different districts in the region to seek support for their candidates.
A large number of election rallies and road shows is scheduled in the poll-bound districts in the next few days. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold a road show in his Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi on March 5. Amit Shah will hold a road show in Gorakhpur on Wednesday.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will also hold a joint road show in Varanasi on March 4.
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