SP takes lead in announcing candidates for UP elections

Lucknow, Mar 9 (UNI) Eventhough just four days are left for the start of poll process for the first phase of assembly election in Uttar Pradesh, still no party, except for the ruling Samajwadi Party, has released the names of the candidates for the 62 seats at will start.

The poll process for the seven-phase assembly polls in UP starts on March 13 with the issuance of notification for the 62 seats which go to poll in the first phase on April 7.

The political parties were taken aback by sudden announcement of poll dates by the Election Commission on February 21 and now they are grappling to select the names of the candidates in accordance with their chances of winnability and keeping in mind the caste equation as well.

Besides the festival of Holi, caste based politics and recent order of CBI probe into the alleged disproportionate assets of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav have created some hurdles for the parties.

The two National parties, BJP and Congress, along with other parties including BSP, RLD are slated to announce their candidates anytime this week.

While the party workers were busy making a beeline for tickets, their leadership was engaged in chalking out strategy for the strenous seven-phase poll in the state.

BJP state president Keshri Nath Tripathi said this is the first time the state is going to have polls in seven phases spread over around two months hence it requires a special strategy.

Meanwhile, the ruling Samajwadi Party has announced a total of 58 candidates so far, including 37 for the first phase.

''The party has already decided the names of the candidates but due to recent Supreme Court's verdict of CBI probe into the properties of Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav has derailed the process'', a senior SP leader said.

The leader said that the complete list of SP candidates for the first and second phases of the elections would be announced by this week.

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