LOK SABHA ELECTIONS-2014… SEATS TO WATCH OUT FOR

The general elections for the 16^th Lok Sabha are right in the corner. The chants of “Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi”, the echoes of “Har haath Shakti, har haath tarakki” and the emphatic roar of the “Aam Aadmi” have become redolent in the air. In this context all the political analysts, the jovial journalists, the elusive editors and the reputed reporters are vigorously engaged in covering all the aspects of the country’s most coveted contest. Well so far I, was engage in my college’s annual cultural fest!

The first observation of mine in the electoral genre was the contestants that filed their nominations. Its pretty well understood that filing a nomination is just a minor formal integration to the process of party allocating the candidate a ticket.

So, I would like to share with you all what interesting I deduced during my search process! I would like to bring to your ‘kind’ notice the seats which have a plural number of popular faces involved in a neck-to-neck fight!

The first in the series is right from a place next to me, Chandni Chowk in Delhi. A decent amount of time from now, Arvind Kejriwal felicitated the AAP ticket on to the renowed journalist Ashutosh. Congress had made it evident in the very beginning that it would be fielding the veteran minister Kapil Sibbal from his very own seat. Now, all eyes were on BJP that who will be fielded by the party in front of these two accomplished faces. BJP chipped in with its trump card in Delhi, none other than Dr. Harsh Vardhan, the one who reached the verge of being the ruler of Hastinapur.  Indeed, Chandni Chowk would be a place of attraction for us, not only for its Paratha lane but for its political gain!

The next in the sequence is the Union Territory Chandigarh. The Aam Aadmi Party took a lead here also in terms of the quickness of declaring the candidate. Gul panag, the former Ms. India (a celebrity) was fielded by the commoner’s party! BJP too took a glamorous face here, by fielding Kirron Kher, the judge of the show India’s Got Talent. But Rahul Gandhi again chipped in with a veteran face, the central minister Mr. Pawan Kumar Bansal. This indeed gives an attractive attire to the general elections.

The reference of Rahul Gandhi in the previous case, drifts me towards Amethi. It’s a poet vs. prince there! Kumar Vishwas from the AAP promises to end the dynasty politics by defeating Rahul Gandhi, But will this promise convert to practicality, it’s a stuff to watch out for!

Then, we come to a place not far away from Amethi, Kanpur. Kanpur seat has been held by the Union Minister for Coal , Shriprakash Jaiswal from the past 15 years. This time BJP has fielded its veteran leader Murli Manohar Joshi from the industrial city. Will Joshi end the winning streak of Jaiswal or will his stars fade in the climaxed days of his political carrier, is what makes Kanpur an interesting aspect!

Well, the city of the golden temple has a poised up scenario in store as well! BJP overlooked its sitting MP from the seat, the very famous cricketer, commentator, TV judge etc., Navjot Singh Siddhu and declared another veteran Arun Jaitley to be its contestant. It would be the very first election that Jaitley would be facing. Congress too, didn’t hesitate in announcing its ticket to another veteran, the ex-CM of Punjab, Captain Amrinder Singh. Will Jaitely retain BJP’s hold on the seat or will the captain lead his side to victory, is an aspect to eagerly hunt for!

Now comes the most populous and the most watched out prospective of  the upcoming general elections, the seat of Kaashi! The BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Mr. Narendra Modi, as we all know is contesting from there. But the spicy ingredient was added up by the AAP coordinator, the former Delhi CM, Mr. Arvind Kejriwal who announced himself as a candidate from Varanasi. Congress is yet to declare who it is fielding. Kejriwal proclaims that he would give a strong blow to Modi. Modi on other hand, says that Kaashi would be coloured in the saffron colour yet again and it would result to be a land to be under a PM’s regime!

Well, all eyes are on the above named seats, and apparently all are a hell lot anxious to see someone who doesn’t turn mute on serious issues to be sworn in as India’s next P.M.!

-Ashwani Ashish