Phoenix wish

At the moment, the BJP is not sure of winning 8220;more than five seats8221; in Uttar Pradesh, a state that sends 80 members to the Lok Sabha. Varun Gandhi to be fielded from Pilibhit, his mother Maneka Gandhi to contest from neighbouring Aonla, and Yogi Adityanath to seek re-election from his fief Gorakhpur are three of the 8220;sure seats8221;, according to insiders. Considering that the Gandhis have their own vote base, and Adityanath fashions himself more as the 8220;Bal Thackeray of Purvanchal,8221; often at odds with the BJP on hardline Hindutva, the BJP is truly in dire straits in the state. UP BJP President Ramapati Ram Tripathi has been dubbed a failure, and the party is looking for a new crop of leadership and a theme that will resuscitate a seemingly moribund party in the state.