Congress senior leaders to campaign, first list of candidates likely on Thursday

Party members wait for news on poll candidates outside the state BJP head office in Lucknow on Wednesday. (Express Photo by Vishal Srivastav)

Congress senior leaders, including former MPs and union ministers, have been asked to campaign for the party candidates in the upcoming urban local body polls in the state. The leaders were asked to campaign and handle poll-related activities in their respective regions. However, the upcoming Gujarat and Himachal Assembly elections could make it difficult for those slated to campaign there. Meanwhile, the party is likely to announce the first list of its candidates on Thursday.

"We met with senior functionaries on Tuesday in Lucknow. We plan to announce our first list of candidates on Thursday, including that of mayors and chairpersons of nagar palika parishad and nagar panchayat," said state president Raj Babbar, who was in Delhi Wednesday for another round of meetings. While there is a demand by the district and city units for active participation of senior leaders in this election, Babbar told The Indian Express, "They actively participated in selection and would campaign as well."

"It is true that there are certain constraints following elections in some of the other states, but it is a very significant election for us in Uttar Pradesh," added Babbar. "While senior leaders have had their say in selection of candidates for their region, districts units have also been taken into confidence. It is for this reason, district units are also requesting for star campaigners especially keeping in mind that BJP has roped in Chief Minister along with state ministers," said a senior leader.

While it is not clear whether party would announce candidate for Lucknow Municipal Corporation Mayor, which has been reserved for woman, sources inform that among the main contenders, who have given their applications include vice-president of UP Congress Committee Anusuiya Sharma, social worker Jyoti Dixit and Manju Shukla, who is a teacher in Lucknow University.

While some said Alka Das, wife of leader Akhilesh Das who had died recently, might be a candidate. But, other sources said, she has not shown any interest so far and instead her name was being discussed as a BJP candidate for the post of Mayor. Akhilesh Das had been mayor of Lucknow and was also union steel minister.