SP, BSP face to face in Kheri

Lakhimpur Kheri, Apr 17 (UNI) The contest on seven assembly constitutencies in Lakhimpur Kheri district in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls is likely to be a repeat of 2002 elections as arch rivals Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party are still the main contenders with very little space for a third outfit.

The district going to polls in the fourth phase on April 23, is expected to expected to throw no surprises with a only minor change in the political arithmetic.

Mulayam Singh Yadav-led SP and Mayawati-led BSP had won four and three seats respectively in 2002 assmebly polls. BJP and Congress just do not seem to be in the recknoing in this terai region with minor possibility of change on a couple of seats.

A husband-wife duo and a Maharani are among the candidates who are trying their luck from this district.

If the turn out in the latest election meeting of Mayawati is some indicator, the BSP, riding on the anti-incumbency factor, seems to have an edge over its main rival. A formidable combination of Dalit and Brahmins, though yet to be tested, might give the party the required boost in the poll results.

BJP and Congress are also fighting out in all the seven seats along with other smaller parties like Janmorcha, Rashtriya Lok Dal and CPI (ML) but there presence will have a little impact on the poll prospects of the SP or BSP.

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