Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are expected to be held in February with Punjab and Uttarakhand.
While the Congress party expects an early elections, the feedback coming from the state is of a hung Assembly. According to the highly-placed sources in the
Congress, the elections cannot be held in April-May due to the school examinations.
The Congress party which has already released three lists of its nominees for the state Assembly polls, is likely to leave about 45 seats to the Ajit Singh led Rashtriya Lok Dal. And of course he would be inducted in the Union Cabinet, they said.
The Congress is building its campaign on the twin issues — development and governance — at a time when the chief minister Mayawati is pegging her hopes on the backward castes and the smaller states.
The reports coming from the state suggests an improvement in the Samjawadi Party. The ruling BSP might emerge as number one but may not retain its current numbers in the Assembly.
The Congress is optimistic of its chances in the Pujnab polls as the BJP sharing power with the Shiromani Akali Dal, may receive a major jolt in the coming battle.
The saffron party would find it difficult to retain its power in Uttarakhand because of the incumbency and infighting. But the Congress too lacks a leader to be seen as a potential chief ministerial candidate.