Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav to kickstart mission Uttar Pradesh from July

In Uttar Pradesh, the dance of democracy is likely to begin in July with Akhilesh Yadav and Priyanka Gandhi starting extensive campaigns for the upcoming Assembly polls.

While Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is likely to begin his campaign from Varanasi where he would offer prayers at Kashi Vishwanath temple, the Congress general secretary too has planned five-day visit to various parts of UP.

According to a senior Samajwadi Party leader, Akhilesh will offer prayers at Kashi Vishwanath on the first Monday on holy month of Sawan in July. On this occasion, he may formally start his campaign for the coming state Assembly polls. The Samajwadi Party chief will hold a meeting of his leaders and workers in Varanasi on this occasion and discuss about the poll strategy. Akhilesh has already announced that his poll campaign will begin with full might in July and he would visit all the Assembly segments of UP in coming six months.

The ruling Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has already begin its groundwork for the state Assembly polls with series of meetings and discussions. The party has decided to hold rallies and meetings of star campaigners like Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in UP every month. This exercise too will begin from July. According to a senior party leader, the campaign will begin in the third week of July after the election of block development council chairperson is over. He said that the party is upbeat with the success in the Zila Panchayat Chairperson elections where till now it has won in 21 districts unopposed.

Priyanka to stay in UP:

On the other hand, the Congress general secretary and in charge of UP, Priyanka Gandhi is all set to hit UP’s battleground in July. Priyanka has made all arrangements for her permanent stay in the state capital of UP. The Congress leaders are all set for a housewarming in second week of July in Lucknow. The house of former union minister and close associate of Nehru family, Sheila Kaul, has been chosen as the destination for Priyanka Gandhi’s stay in UP.

The Congress state organization is busy these days in renovating this house where Priyanka will stay in Lucknow. The house chosen for Priyanka’s stay in UP for the next few month is in the posh locality of Hazratganj. Besides, a separate flat has been hired for the stay of the personal staff of Priyanka Gandhi in the state capital. According to a senior leader in July, Priyanka Gandhi will visit UP and hold a series of meetings with her party workers and leaders.

Hunt for candidates on:

The Congress party has already started the hunt for probable candidates in UP. The party has already shortlisted names for 50 seats who will be fielded in the coming Assembly elections. These include the sitting legislators, runner-ups in the previous Assembly election and few prominent leaders. The party has asked its district presidents to send names of at least five winnable candidates from their respective areas. Besides, the party has also decided to give tickets to a large number of youths and most backward caste candidates in the upcoming Assembly elections.