UP Elections 2017: Key Candidates Contesting In Phase 7

Uttar Pradesh will vote in the final phase of the seven phase elections today. A total of 1.41 crore voters, including 64.76 lakh women will vote for the 40 constituencies go to poll today. The final leg of the elections saw extensive campaigning from star candidates of leading parties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been camping in his Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi where he held roadshows and election rallies. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi conducted rallies with Samajwadi Party chief and Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav in the city. Congress and Samajwadi Party have forged an alliance for the assembly elections. BSP chief Mayawati had also launched a high-octane campaign in this key constituency.

Ghazipur, Varanasi, Jaunpur, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Bhadoi and Sonebhadra districts will be polling today. Varanasi has five assembly seats.

Among key candidates contesting today, are five-time Congress MLA Ajai Rai, who is contesting from Pindra. BSP candidate Sibakatullah Ansari, sitting MLA and elder brother of Mukhtar Ansari is another prominent leader contesting in the seventh phase. He is contesting from Mohammadabad. Congress sitting MLA and Former National President NSUI Nadeem Javed will be contesting from Jaunpur.

A total of 1.41 crore voters, including 64.76 lakh women will vote in the final phase of the seven-phased UP elections.
 
In the 2012 Assembly election, Samajwadi Party won 23 out of the 40 seats. Five were won by BSP, BJP (4), Congress (3) and five were won by others.