Glamour aplenty in Lucknow civic polls as Shabnam Mausi joins campaign

Asha Devi, who had to cross many a hurdle before she could contest the mayor’s seat in Gorakhpur reserved for the weaker sex, is elated. Some candidates had objected to her candidature, saying “Amarnath Yadav” could not contest a seat reserved for women. It was only after the state Election Commission intervened to say that a contestant’s sex would be decided on the basis of enrolment in the voter’s list that she got a reprieve.

The Madhya Pradesh MP will perform street shows during her two-day stay in Gorakhpur to attract voters. She will, however, not give much time to the other two contestants of her “community” at Gorakhpur and Bareilly, possibly because they are on a stronger wicket — — they are fighting on the tickets of the SP and BJP ally, the Janatantrik BSP respectively.

Sallaudin alias Kallu is the Samajwadi Party candidate for the corporation election at Varanasi while Meenakshi alias masterni is in fray for the mayor’s post in Bareilly on a JBSP ticket. So overwhelmed was Kallu with the gesture from Mulayam Singh Yadav that he declared himself as his “sevika”. The civic polls have assumed much significance with all major political parties treating it as a barometer of their image in view of the impending assembly polls. This explains why all parties and top leaders are leaving no stone unturened to score a victory over their opponents.

Chief Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP state party chief Kalraj Mishra are addressing three to four meetings daily in different districts as is their bete noire Mulayam Singh Yadav. The irrepressible Mayawati is not far behind.