The men may be leading from the front but the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2017 will mainly be a “womanly affair”.
The men may be leading from the front but the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in 2017 will mainly be a “womanly affair”.
The ruling Samajwadi Party, led by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, will see his wife and SP MP Dimple Yadav playing a more proactive role in the Assembly elections and if sources are to be believed, she will be one of the star campaigners of the party. Till now Ms Dimple has mainly remained in the shadows of her husband in politics.
“But she is now coming into her own and the party will rely on her charisma in the Assembly polls. (Ms) Dimple will be seen addressing a number of rallies independently this time,” said a party functionary.
Ms Dimple’s increased involvement in the party campaign is expected to tone down the “men only” image of the Samajwadi Party and also help bring women into the party fold. Besides, she will also attract Thakur votes in the party since she comes from a Thakur family.
For the Bahujan Samaj Party, Ms Mayawati remains the only choice for the chief ministerial position and as party president, she will lead the party’s campaign.
Ms Mayawati, a four-time chief minister, is working over-time to recapture power in Lucknow and return to form the government for the fifth time. Her image as a tough administrator is expected to help her cash in on the anti-incumbency factor against the Akhilesh government.
The Congress, reports suggest, is banking heavily on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to revive itself in Uttar Pradesh but it is unlikely that the party will project her as a chief ministerial candidate.
For the Congress, Ms Priyanka remains one who has the potential of being a national leader.
Congress leaders, however, claim that Ms Priyanka will be working closely on developing the strategy for UP elections with strategist Prashant Kishore and may even campaign on sleeted seats.
“Without doubt, (Ms) Priyanka will be playing an important role in UP elections because the future of the party can change dramatically if the Congress emerges a winner here,” said an AICC leader.
The BJP, meanwhile, feels that projecting Smriti Irani as a chief ministerial candidate — especially after her recent performance in Parliament — can mobilise party cadres.
Ms Irani is perceived as a leader who can challenge Ms Mayawati, Ms Dimple and even Ms Priyanka single-handedly in the state elections.
Besides these four women another woman who can make an impact, albeit a limited one, in the Assembly elections is Apna Dal MP Anupriya Patel. After winning the 2012 Assembly elections and then the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, she is said to be working overtime to ensure the success of her faction of the Apna Dal that has already split.
