Samajwadi Supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has decided to contest from Azamgargh too besides his constituency Mainpuri, apparently to counter Modi from polarising votes in Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

National General Secretary of Samajwadi Party Ram Gopal Yadav said the decision follows demands of leaders and party workers from eastern region of the state.

AIR correspondent analyses the political importance of the decision.

Although party spokesperson has said that decision has been taken on the demands of party leaders and workers from eastern region of the state, but political observers said that SP supremo`s contest from Azamgarh will help the party to consolidate its vote bank. Samajwadi Party strategists also feel that Mulayam's candidature from Azamgarh will not only help the party bag an extra seat in the region but also help limit the impact of polarization votes which may then tend to tilt towards BJP leader Modi.

Azamgarh is in the East UP. Varanasi is, also in east UP from where Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded its Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

BJP is trying to woo the voters from OBCs by campaigning that for the first time a backward is all set to become prime minister of the country.

Political analysts say that Mulayam-Modi fight in the east will polarize votes between the two parties.

The distance between Azamgarh and Varanasi is just 100 km. In 2009 elections, BJP had won both the seats.