For BJP, BSP, SP, there’s a lot at stake in Agra civic polls

With Shriprakash Jaiswal being entrusted with heading Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee in an effort to rejuvenate the party and lift its sagging image, local body elections will be indicative as to what extent he has been able to execute the job.

The Mayoral post in Agra is reserved for a Scheduled Caste candidate. The BJP nominating a candidate from the Kori caste, the Samajwadi Party a Valmiki, BSP a Jatav and the Congress has nominated a Khatik. Going by the mood of voters here, it appears that party affiliation, and not caste, will be the deciding factor this time. With the BJP having held the Mayor’s post for five years, the Nagar Nigam elections will prove to be an acid test for the party.

The elections will also be crucial to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh’s future political fortunes, besides, indicating to what extent the recent decision of BJP chief Bangaru Laxman to woo Muslims has worked. At a meeting here, BSP leader Mayawati had announced that her party would not align with any political party in future. Claiming that the BSP was “the only” pro-Muslim party, Mayawati said: “Shahi Imam Bukhari of Delhi has also asked the Muslims to vote for BSP,” adding that only the BSP has given tickets to seven Muslims to contest for the mayoral posts.

Also being tested are Samajwadi Party star campaigner and MP Raj Babbar since party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has pinned his hopes on the actor-turned-politician’s glamour to rope in voters in Agra.

Interestingly, women contestants have outnumbered their male counterparts in the Nagar Nigam elections, with active participation even from Muslim women.