Election battle has started in five states including Uttar Pradesh. On Saturday morning, when the news flashed that the Election Commission would hold a press conference from 3.30 pm, the color of politics started dissolving in the atmosphere. The team of NBT Online’s election tour took to the streets to know the condition of Lucknow, the capital of the country’s largest arena of politics. Visiting the offices of BJP, Samajwadi Party, Congress. Talked to the big names active in the politics of the state to the people met at the tea shops at the intersections. Let’s know how was the atmosphere…
In front of the assembly is the state office of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. As we proceed from Hazratganj intersection towards Burlington, some vehicles worth counting are seen standing on the fingers of the wall adjacent to the BJP office. Outside the main gate of the office, some tea and snack shops are seen wearing khadi kurtas and sadris. On going inside, some people are seen sitting in a temple on the left, wishing him a long life for the incident with PM Narendra Modi in Punjab. Apart from the general hustle and bustle, people are seen only in limited numbers.
Reporters of electronic media channels are seen holding the mic in front of the camera as they proceed. The process of people coming and going outside the building continues. In the middle of our conversation with the BJP in-charge holding a special responsibility, a middle-aged man from Bhadohi district requests to be made a spokesperson. In another room, the state in-charge is seen sitting in a panel debate. A Netaji met in the party office says that since the last 3-4 days there has been a spurt in the cases of Covid, the movement here has reduced. On the condition of not revealing the name, Netaji says that brother! There is no big leader today.. Otherwise there would not be a place to keep mole here.
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav holds a press conference at the party office just before the announcement of the dates by the Election Commission. During this we also leave for the party headquarters located on Vikramaditya Marg. Four wheelers are seen as soon as they move ahead from the red light, whose number increases with the progress. It is difficult to count such a large number of vehicles. Samajwadi Party workers and people hoping for tickets are gathered here from all over the state.
The gate of SP office has been closed. Only red caps are visible inside and outside the gate. On going inside, the leaders and workers stand on the side of the road and raise slogans in support of Akhilesh Yadav. When Akhilesh is about to leave, the gate is locked. Meanwhile, there is a debate among people about their willingness to come inside with the security personnel.
An MLA from Kanpur, an alumnus leader of Allahabad University, a block chief of Gonda, a leader from Mau district, a chairman of Agra… These are just samples of posters of leaders pasted on the windows of vehicles parked outside the SP party office. is full. There are also some people raising the issue of reservation scam in 69 thousand teacher recruitment. There are some shopkeepers selling flags, banners, stickers, badges, caps, photos on the road opposite. A gentleman standing at an enterprise says- The number of people is increasing for a few days.
After the announcement of the election dates, we also reach the Congress party office in Lucknow. Posters of party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, state president Ajay Kumar Lallu have been put up. Contenders from all over the place are seen present around the office along with the posters. By the time we reach here, it is a bit late in the evening. Due to Corona, Priyanka Gandhi did a virtual rally in the afternoon itself. He communicated on the issue of Ladki Hoon-Laid Hoon.
In front of BJP office campus
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