29-year-old Aditi Singh, daughter of five time MLA Akhilesh Kumar Singh, is Congress’ candidate from UP’s Rae Bareli constituency. Akhilesh Kumar Singh, who is known as a local strongman, has passed on the baton to his daughter Aditi Singh. She is facing a contest from BSP candidate Shahbaz Khan. Uttar Pradesh has seen a 64 per cent voting in first phase of Assembly elections. BSP, BJP, and Congress-SP alliance are making all efforts win big in the politically crucial state. A tough fight expected between four parties in the much-awaited assembly election. The campaign in the first and second of seven phased Assembly elections has been concluded for 140 seats of western Uttar Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, BSP chief Mayawati and Congress VP Rahul Gandhi have been trying tooth and nails to win the elections.
The Samajwadi Party under Akhilesh Yadav’s leadership is banking upon development agenda, with CM’s ‘Kaam Bolta Hai’ campaign. While PM has urged voters to end the ‘vikas ka vanvas’ (exile of development) and projecting demonetisation as an attack against corruption. Modi and BJP accused SP and BSP of plundering the state over the years and targeted the SP-Congress alliance, saying the two had come together to save themselves. Joining hands with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav led the SP assault, as party patriarch Mulayam kept away following family feud, with the two scions locking horns with Modi and BSP supremo Mayawati.
Meanwhile, lets have a look at key issues of crucial constituency of Rae-Bareli, the bastion of Gandhi parivaar:
Number of voters
As per a 2012 election commission data, there were 313729 total electors in Rae Bareli out of which 168820 were male electors and 144909 were female electors.
Who won the elections last time
Akhilesh Kumar Singh had won the 2012 Assembly election from Rae Bareli. While Singh always won on a Congress ticket, in last Assembly elections of 2012, he fought from peace party. He had defeated SP’s Ram Pratap Yadav by over 29,000 votes.
Who all are contesting this time
ADITI SINGH (Indian National Congress), ANITA SRIVASTAVA (Bharatiya Janata Party), BHARATI PANDEY (Rashtriya Lok Dal), MHD. SHAHBAZ KHAN (Bahujan Samaj Party) are the prominent faces in fray from Rae Bareli.
Key Issues
The election basics – roads, water, electricity, better employment and education opportunities are the key issues here.
Why is constituency important
Rae Bareli is considered as a Congress bastion. Winning election here is more than just adding to number to Assembly Seats. It’s a matter of prestige here for the grand old party. While the Contituency has always voted in favour of Congress except for a couple of ocassion in Lok Sabha elections, the party has struggled to win in the state assembly polls. Last time, party strongman Akhilesh Kumar Singh had defected to another party and managed to win.
