Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi have so far stayed away from the campaigning in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections but another charismatic chief minister, Nitish Kumar, is promising electorates he will convert UP into Bihar if voted to power.
Regional heavyweights outside UP are testing their appeal in the state in the electoral battle against chief minister Mayawati and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Mayawati-Mulayam have virtually checked the national parties in the state which have given more Prime Ministers to the nation. Interestingly, Mr Nitish Kumar and Mr Narendra Modi are seen as prime ministerial candidates of the NDA and the BJP respectively.
After the historic victory in Bengal and Bihar Assembly polls, both Ms Banerjee and Mr Kumar are keen to see whether their charisma can make a dent in the support base of the BSP and the SP. The JD(U) is fighting over 300 seats, said its state unit general secretary Subhash Pathak. Mr Pathak said Mr Kumar is attacking on vyavasthaa (system) during the election meetings but his focus is on vikaas (development). “Nitishji is promising people to convert UP into Bihar if voted to power,” he said. The Bihar chief minister has so far addressed meetings in Kushi Nagar, Ballia and Maharajganj districts, he said. JD(U) national general secretary K.C. Tyagi said Mr Kumar is the star campaigner and is in the demand. Asked whether the JD(U) and the Trinamul are fighting polls together, both Mr Tyagi and Mr Pathak clarified the two parties have reached to some understanding on certain seats. If Ms Banerjee and Mr Kumar have appeal among minorities, Mr Modi has been known for his aggressive Hindutva line.