<b>Periscope:</b> All eyes on Amethi

Congress' stronghold Amethi will go on poll on Monday

Fifty-two constituencies spread over 11 districts will go to the polls on Monday in the fifth phase of the seven-phase Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. All eyes will be on the Gandhi family stronghold of Amethi. The Congress has fielded former MLA Ameeta Sinh, wife of Congress leader and scion of Amethi’s erstwhile ruling family, Sanjay Singh, while the BJP has picked Singh's former wife, Garima Singh. On the other hand, Gayatri Prajapati of the Samajwadi Party, a Shivpal-Mulayam pick, who is seeking re-election from the constituency, is fighting not just against his political rivals but also some of his own. Interestingly, while the Congress and the SP are contesting the UP polls as allies, they will face each other in Amethi, where the seat-sharing formula didn’t succeed. In the sixth phase, on March 4 , 49 constituencies from seven districts will go to the polls. The BJP has a strong presence in large swathes of this region.

BJP supporters at an election rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Langjing Achouba ground in Imphal West on Saturda. (Photo: PTI)

 

Manipur set for polls

The first of the two-phase Assembly polls in Manipur will be held on March 4, amid disturbed conditions. The United Naga Council (UNC) has imposed an indefinite economic blockade on the state since November 1 against the government’s decision to create seven new districts in the landlocked state, badly affecting the supply of essential commodities. The state government has said the decision was taken to improve administrative efficiency. The election campaign began with a controversy. The BJP’s state in charge, Prahlad Singh Patel, announced Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit the state to address a mega rally at the Kangla fort on February 25. Following this, Irom Sharmila’s People's Resurgence and Justice Alliance (PRJA) filed a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging the proposed rally violated the Model Code of Conduct, which bars any such activity at a place of religious worship. Subsequently, the Manipur unit of the BJP announced it had changed the venue of the Prime Minister’s rally from the Kangla fort to the Langjing Achouba ground, a few kilometres away. BJP ally Naga People’s Front is looking to unseat Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh of the Congress.

Rift in Bihar's ruling coalition

The ruling coalition in Bihar will have to soon address its differences over the Legislative Council elections. Elections to four seats will be held on March 9 but differences have emerged between the alliance partners. Diplomacy will have to be employed immediately. The Congress has announced its candidates on two of the four seats, notwithstanding the presence of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) nominees on both seats. Earlier, the Janata Dal (United) and the RJD had divided the four seats among themselves, leaving no seats for the Congress. The Congress is determined to contest two , even if it loses. The RJD has 80 MLAs, JD(U) 71 and Congress 27 in the ruling coalition.