Cong, SP use minority card to win polls in UP

Lucknow, Oct 1: With the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) deciding against contesting the urban local bodies elections in Uttar Pradesh, Congress and Samajwadi Party are likely to field Muslims candidates for the post of mayor in the state capital.

Since the urban local bodies elections are being considered a run up to the February 2007 assembly elections, all major political players are taking the elections as a warm up exercise to rejuvnats the cadre. With Lucknow a hub of political activities in the state, especially before the assembly elections, parties want to get maximum representation in local urban bodies here.

The victory in these elections would also work as a morale booster for the political parties. ''The BSP knows it has a poor base in urban areas...fighting and suqsequently not winning sufficient seats would mean a dejected cadre. Therefore, it decided to stay away from urban local bodies,'' claimed a Congress leader here today.

In July this year, BSP president and former Chief Minister Mayawati had asked party workers to be prepared for the local bodies elections. She had asked local leaders to prepare a panel of probable candidates by August 15. But a sudden U turn by the BSP has taken most of the aspiring candidates by surprise.

Local Congress leader D P Bora, vying for mayoral ticket for his son Neeraj Bora, joined BSP yesterday after Congress slammed doors on him. But within minutes of his joining, BSP announced its decision against contesting the crucial polls.

Now Neeraj Bora could contest as an independent candidate with outside backing of the BSP.

As for Congres, it is likely to field former IPS officer Dr Mansoor Ahmed. Dr Ahmed is also the vice-chancellor of Agra University. ''This is the best way to attract Muslim votes ahead of assembly elections...Congress' base amongst Muslims has eroded over the years and shifted to the SP and to some extent the BSP,'' said a Congress leader recently included in the newly-set up UPCC.

Congress would formally announce its mayoral candidate for Lucknow on October 3.

While the ruling SP is also set to announce its candidate on October 3 for Lucknow mayor post, sources said like Congress it was also likely to field a Muslim. ''With BJP's Dr S C Rai holding the post for two successive terms, it is time for other parties to grab the opportunity, using the minority card as a vehicle,'' said a BJP leader.

BJP said it was likely to once again field Dr Rai for the post.

UNI