Mixed feelings for Gandhis in UP's rice bowl

DEMOGRAPHY Banking on Modi's popularity, BJP will fight to retain its bastion while SP will try to cash in on absence of Varun Gandhi

- NAMITA BAJPAI

OTHERWISE a non-descript Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh, Pilibhit, rice bowl of the state, is hitting headlines for political reasons.

For the first time in his decade-long rule, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the constituency, a bastion of the other half of the Gandhi family-Maneka Gandhi and her son Varun.

Though slogans backing Maneka and Varun are missing from the political landscape of the constituency as the BJP has replaced MP Varun Gandhi with Congress turncoat Jitin Prasada, the stage is set for a fierce fight on the ground. Prasada, a BJP MLC, is now the PWD minister in the Yogi Adityanath cabinet.

The Samajwadi Party has fielded Bhagwat Saran Gangwar, former minister and a five-term MLA. BSP has fielded Anis Ahmad Khan alias Gulab Babu who was a minister in Mayawati regime. BSP candidate's presence is set to divide Muslim votes that which would benefit Jitin Prasada, analysts say.