In Uttar Pradesh, campaigning for the fifth phase of Assembly elections, ended Tuesday evening. The elections are going to take place on Thursday in 49 constituencies spread over 13 districts. These districts are mainly covering Central UP, Bundelkhand and some parts of western UP. In this phase, about one crore, 54 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes.

There are 829 candidates in the fray in this phase, out of which 167 candidates are from National parties. The prominent candidates are former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti from Charkhari in Mahoba district, Samajwadi party leader in UP Assembly, Shivpal Singh Yadav from Jaswant Nagar seat in Etawah district, State BSP chief Swami Prasad Maurya’s daughter Sanghmitra Maurya from Aliganj seat in Etah district.

Meanwhile, Mr. Rahul Gandhi's road show in Kanpur, has become a political issue. Union Minster and Congress leader Kapil Sibal said in Lucknow that the manner in which the case has been lodged against the show, has raised many doubts. He said, the party will look into this matter.

Campaigning for the areas going to polls in the sixth and seventh phases, meanwhile, is going full steam. Top political leaders of all major parties have addressed several meetings, mainly in western UP region.