UP elections 2022: Keshav Prasad Maurya and Krishna Patel among key candidates in fray

Uttar Pradesh holds its fifth round of the seven-phase Assembly elections on Sunday, the polls are all set to draw up crucial tests for several prominent leaders.

This phase will be held across 61 Assembly seats spread across 12 districts of Uttar Pradesh. Friday was the last day of campaigning for the fifth phase.

Also read: Fifth phase of voting begins in Uttar Pradesh, Manipur on single phase

Sultanpur, Chitrakoot, Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Barabanki, Bahraich, Shravasti and Gonda are among the districts where polling will take place on Sunday.

Amethi and Raebareli, once considered as Congress strongholds, and Ayodhya, the epicentre of the Ram temple movement, will vote on Sunday.

Also read: Election Commission makes seizures worth over Rs 1000 crore in 5 poll-bound states

The electoral fates of 692 candidates will be decided in this phase. Key faces in the fray include Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Union minister Anupriya Patel.

Here is a list of key candidates to watch out for:

Keshav Prasad Maurya vs Pallavi Patel

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Keshav Prasad Maurya is one of the prominent candidates in this phase. Keshav Prasad is contesting from the Sirathu Assembly seat in Kaushambi district. Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) candidate Pallavi Patel has been pitted against him.

Also read: UP Assembly Elections 2022: 58.08% voter turnout recorded in 4th phase

Patel is the elder sister of Union minister Anupriya Patel, whose Apna Dal (Sonelal) is an ally of the ruling BJP.

BJP’s Sanjaya Sinh vs Congress’ Ashish Shukla

Amethi, which was once considered as a bastion of Congress, will see a fight between two turncoats – Congress-turned-BJP leader Sanjay Sinh, BJP-turned-Congress leader Ashish Shukla.

Sinh, also known as the ‘Raja of Amethi’, had given up his Rajya Sabha seat and joined BJP in 2019. He is contesting the state polls for the first time in 33 years.

Apna Dal (K) chief Krishna Patel vs Rajendra Kumar

Union minister Anupriya Patel’s mother and Apna Dal (K) chief Krishna Patel is contesting from the Pratapgarh seat. Apna Dal (K) has forged an alliance with the Samajwadi Party.

Also read: Cycle the common man’s ride: Akhilesh hits back at Modi’s bomb dig

BJp’s Nand Gopal Gupta vs Congress’ Alpana Nishad

BJP stronghold Allahabad South, which falls under Prayagraj district, will see BJP minister Nand Gopal Gupta locking horns with Congress’ Alpana Nishad. The SP has fielded Raees Chandra Shukla from the seat.