)
Considered to be the most crucial phase which would test the popularity of stalwarts of Uttar Pradesh politics, campaigning for 12 seats going to the polls in third phase on April 24 came to an end today.
While the prestige of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's family is at the stake, the bollywood beauty queen of her era Hema Malini is in fray from Mathura seat and once considered to be a close confidant of Mulayam, Amar Singh is in fray from Fatehpur seat.
Two more political families that of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh and BJP leader and former UP Chief Minister Kalyan Singh were also slated to test their hold and popularity .
While Mulayam is fighting to retain his traditional Mainpuri seat, his daughter-in-law Dimple Yadav would be facing challenge to retain Kannauj.
Mulayam's nephew and son of SP national general secretary Ram Gopal, Akshay Yadav is in the electoral fray for the first time from Firozabad.
Etawah seat is considered to be a VIP seat as it is the home district of biggest political Yadav family.
On Mathura seat Hema Malini banking on Modi wave is pitted against Jayant Chaudhary, grandson of Chaudhary Charan Singh and son of RLD chief Ajit Singh.
Once considered to be having number two position in SP, Amar Singh has entered the electoral battle for the first time from Fatehpur. He is contesting on RLD ticket with the support of Congress.
Though Kalyan Singh is not in fray this time from Etah, but his son Rajveer's future is at stake in the same seat.
In Farukkhabad Union Minister Salman Khurshid has the challenge of retaining his seat.
BJP and BSP are contesting on all 12 seats, whereas in turn of political courtesy Congress has not fielded candidates against Mulayam and Dimple.
This phase has total 187 candidates, whose fate would be decided by 1.98 crore electorates.
In 2009 elections SP won 4 seats, Congress 3, RLD 2, BSP and BJP one each.
Last time Kalyan won from Etah seat as an independent candidate.
