UP polls begin today, all eyes on wild west

LUCKNOW: Act I of the seven-part UP thriller+ will unfold on Saturday as volatile western Uttar Pradesh goes to the polls. The fortunes of BJP, and BSP in particular, hang in the balance as both will look for a headstart in their race for office.

The polls cover 73 constituencies spread over 15 districts, and while the fight is definitely triangular, the political topography does not favour the Akhilesh-led+Samajwadi Party-Congress combination.

But the alliance’s success with minority votes will definitely have a bearing on BSP’s performance, in an area where its Dalit base is strongly represented. The other player in the ring is Jat leader Ajit Singh, whose RLD is facing its toughest battle ever.

The election will also be seen as a referendum on PM Narendra Modi’s demonetisation initiative+, with reports of rural distress due to the cash squeeze.