An engrossing four-cornered contest is on the cards in Phulpur Lok Sabha constituency, in UP, which Congress seeks to reclaim after 25 years. BJP hopes to win it for the first time while BSP wants to retain and Samajwadi Party aims at wresting back. From nationwide fame earned on account of Jawaharlal Nehru fighting from this constituency during his lifetime to the infamy caused by victory of Samajwadi Part's mafia don-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed in the recent past, this Lok Sabha seat has seen it all.

Congress has surprised all by fielding former Test cricketer Mohd Kaif from the seat, apparently with an eye on the sizeable Muslim electorate. BJP has placed its trust in Keshav Prasad Maurya, an OBC leader who is a sitting MLA from Sirathu in the neighbouring district of Kaushambi. Meanwhile, BSP has chosen to give a second chance to its sitting Brahmin MP Kapil Muni Karwariya. The party is confident of its core vote base of Dalits remaining intact and is hopeful of getting a good chunk of Brahmin votes.