.jpg?rect=0%2C0%2C976%2C549&auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
1. UP Polls: BJP Gave Tickets to Riot Accused and Party Defectors
The Bhartiya Janata Party announced a list of 149 candidates for contesting the UP polls.
Apart from people accused in riots, 24 known defectors from other parties have also been given tickets for contesting on BJP’s name.
Most of the seats announced so far are for the first and second phase of the election. There are only a few seats which have BJPs own MLAs contesting. Of the 149 names announced, there is not a single Muslim candidate named and there are only 11 women named.
Backward Caste Card
But the party has played the backward classes card, as it named 60 people belonging to a number of backward castes.
Source: Amar Ujala
2. If Mulayam Contests Alone, He Will Only Get 10 Seats: Experts
The Election Commission ruled in favour of Akhilesh Yadav on Monday, giving him the Samajwadi Party’s name and its cycle symbol.
Political Science professor AK Verma, senior journalist Pradeep Kapoor, Yogesh Srivastava, and Sridhar Agnihotri deliberated on the conditions under which Mulayam-Akhilesh can remain under threat, and this is what they came up with:
1. What Could Harm Mulayam Most?
Mulayam has the option of fighting the election under a different party symbol. However, he will not take upon himself the dangerous task of contesting the elections. He can take Shivpal and other ministers into the polls.
2. The Yadav vote may go in Akhilesh’s favour, Muslim vote will be monitored.
3. If Congress-RLD don’t form an alliance, it will be to Akhilesh’s detriment.
4. How Can Mulayam Save Face?
The Election Commission’s decision to hand the SP’s bicycle symbol to Akhilesh has been a blow to the party patriarch. In order to save face, experts opine that he could acquiesce to Akhilesh’s leadership, telling his supporters that his son has inherited the party and its symbol.
5. How Does Akhilesh Stand to Gain?
Akhilesh’s biggest advantage is that the SP’s traditional vote base has now gotten over the confusion. They have seen the bicycle symbol and will vote for it.
Source: Dainik Bhaskar
3. The Man Who Will Contest Elections from Jail Had Viral Poster Against Akhilesh
BSP’s Vineet Singh Shyam Narayan Singh alias Raja Syed Chandauli is contesting for the UP elections. Singh is a resident of Varanasi Kolhapur’s Gola village and has several criminal cases registered against him in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand.
In July 2016, Singh surrendered himself before a Ranchi court in a case of kidnapping and has been in prison since then.
A poster against Akhilesh went viral, which brought Singh into the fore.
These are the Cases Registered Against Him
- Four attempt to murder cases.
- Three murder cases.
- One case of kidnapping for ransom.
- One case of murdering a child after kidnapping.
In this manner, 14 cases have been registered against him.
Source: Dainik Bhaskar
4. Uttar Pradesh Polls: In a First, Bollywood Pens BSP Anthem for Elections
The BSP has roped in Bollywood to give shape to a party anthem for the elections this time. Trying to keep up with BJP’s slogans such as ‘Ab UP Bhi Badlega’ and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s ‘Kaam Bolta Hai’, the BSP has come up with its own slogan — ‘Behenji Ko Aaane Do’.
It has also decided on a theme song – Sinhasan Pe Maya Behen. While the song has been written by Bollywood lyricist Manoj Muntashir, Vishal Mishra is the music director. It has been sung by Divya Kumar and Aishwarya Nigam.
Besides being circulated on social media, the 3.45-minute song will also be played during the party’s poll rallies. In the past, songs by local folk singers praising Mayawati, Dalit icons and BSP have been part of the party’s rallies.
The song talks about the “law and order” problem in the state and how the condition of UP has deteriorated in the last five years since Mayawati was ousted from power in the 2012 elections.
Source: Indian Express
5. Azam Khan’s Dilemma: Go with the Son or the Father?
Among the old guards in the feud-battered Samjawadi Party, it is Azam Khan who faces a massive dilemma – should he side with Mulayam Singh Yadav with whom he has been associated since the formation of the SP, or go with Akhilesh Yadav with whom he has worked as a senior minister?
Azam is in two minds because his son Abdullah Azam has been given a ticket by Akhilesh from the Suar assembly constituency, while his wife was sent to the Rajya Sabha in 2014 on Mulayam’s direction.
Ever since the family wrangling came out in the open about four months ago, Azam has remained neutral. He didn't attend the SP meeting of 24 October where Akhilesh and Shivpal engaged in a war of words, and also stayed away when Akhilesh embarked on an election campaign on 1 November.
He understood the gravity of the situation and thought fit to remain silent.Close Aide of Azam Khan
Source: The Times of India
6. Akhilesh Pins Hope on Bicycle & Non-BJP Alliance for a Big UP Win
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav may have won the first battle against his father in the Election Commission of India by getting full control of the Samajwadi Party and its election symbol – the bicycle – but his real test for a bid to return to power starts now in the people's court.
Proceedings in the EC may have caused a delayed start to the Samajwadi Party’s electoral preparations, but Akhilesh appears more than keen to make up for it by forging an umbrella alliance of major parties – the Congress and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD).
Akhilesh has done most of the homework about the possible alliances, which may be announced on Tuesday or at the most on Wednesday. Akhilesh’s wife, Dimple, had already met with Priyanka Gandhi and sealed the deal.
Read the full story on The Quint.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)