War of words and poll gifts mark election battle in UP

Barabanki/Allahabad/Bijnor, Jan 7 (ANI): With all eyes being set on the throne of Lucknow, leaders of various political outfits on Friday hit out at the ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Government in Uttar Pradesh on Friday in a bid to clinch the crucial elections.

Congress leader P. L. Punia accused Chief Minister Mayawati's trusted minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui of behaving as a money-collecting agent.

"Like collection officers, he (Naseemuddin Siddiqui) was a similar kind of agent. He was collecting money on her behalf. Now when Mayawati is realising that all her ministers and workers are ruining her mass support and the masses are criticising her, so she is removing them to cover her misdeeds," Punia told the media at Barabanki on Friday.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav urged the voters to support his party in order to overthrow the Mayawati Government from the state.

Addressing a public rally in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor District on Friday, he said: "As of now this elephant (election symbol of the Bahujan Samaj Party) has not turned that mad. I wonder what will happen if it turns wild."

Meanwhile, the political parties did not even shy away from pulling out stunts to woo voters ahead of polls.

BSP legislator Nand Gopal Gupta along with his aides distributed religious calendars and pamphlets in Kareli locality, a Muslim dominated area in Allahabad city.

Local residents flocked to get their share of the freebies and echoed support to the candidate.

"By coming here he has begun a campaign to foster contact with the people by distributing calendars, posters, pamphlets and cards. They have stepped up people's support to them. In this Muslim dominated area, even the people have decided that we have to help them win (in the elections)," said Haseen Ahmed, a local resident.

Uttar Pradesh will elect a 403-member legislative assembly, and the result in the state is expected to broadly indicate the trends for the national elections due in 2014.

Voting in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases starting February 4 and finishing on February 28. The results of the election would be declared on March 4. (ANI)