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Dimple to join the galaxy of star campaigners in UP polls
Lucknow: There is likely to be a greater use of women power for the first time in the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh by at least three major parties. The fourth main contestant, the Bhartiya Janta Party, is undecided yet and may solely depend on Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has become a brand for the party.
Wife of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, Dimple, who has already proved her curatorial skill in the Lok Sabha, may join the galaxy of star campaigners for the Samajwadi Party. She has campaigned for herself in Kannauj Lok Sabha constituency but not for others. A slogan has been already coined to popularise her among the voters--- Jeet Ki Chabhi, Dimple Bhabhi ( key to victory lies with sister-in-law Dimple.
If the party splits down the middle, the other faction has to find a suitable match because an appeal by a woman leader carries more weight than the male counterpart. However, this group has already found a matching slogan, Jiska Jalwa Kayam Hai, Uska Nam Mulayam Hai ( the name of the man who continues to hold sway is Mulayam)
She will face a bigger problem if new symbols are allotted to two different factions of the party, one led by her husband and the other by her father-in- law Mulayam Singh Yadav. She will have to be more circumspect and choosy on words.
A development which, however, may cheer her is that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is likely to campaign for the Congress in a big way and may share the dais with her as the party is likely to form a pre-poll alliance with Akhilesh.
So far Priyanka has addressed voters in only two constituencies, Amethi and Raebareli , represented by brother Rahul Gandhi and mother Sonia Gandhi, respectively. The year 1999 was as an exception as she had taken part in some election meetings in Sultanpur Lok Sabha constituency from where Arun Nehru was seeking election.
Arun Nehru was at one time very close to the family, particularly her father, but had parted company later for some yet unknown reasons and possibly to take revenge she addressed rallies against him in Sultanpur district. She was successful because although he had a good chance of winning the seat he was defeated. Her one liner that the man who had cheated her simple father cannot do any good for the people of the constituency did the trick.
In the upcoming elections she is likely to visit more areas in the state and campaign for the party .A party source claimed that she had given her consent for the same for the betterment of the Congress and her brother Rahul Gandhi who is trying hard to improve the party's prospects.
It is another matter that despite her hectic tour the Congress had lost all but one assembly seats in the two Lok Sabha constituencies. May be the proposal to press Priyanka again was seriously considered because of Prashant Kishor, the party strategist.
As far as the third major political force, the Bahujan Samaj Party, is concerned, it is being led by a woman and she is herself a good campaigner. Since there is no other woman in the party who has a mass appeal, she is likely to do the talking to voters herself. She has already declared that her party will go it alone. So, there is no hope of any other lady to do the campaigning.
The fourth major player, the BJP, can take the services of union minister Smriti Irani or chief of its state women wing Swati Singh but it is likely to depend more on Modi who has gained immense popularity post-demonetisation.
The state will go to the polls next month. The seven-phase election will end on March 8.
Shobhit Kalra
Writer has 10 years of experience in digital media. Presently working as Chief Sub Editor at newstrack.com. An avid reader and always willing to learn new things and techniques.
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