Friday will be an acid test for big-wigs like Atal Behari Vajpayee, VP Singh and Sonia Gandhi, whose parliamentary constituencies go to the polls in the fifth phase. The crucial phase will also decide the fate of heavyweights like Raghuraj Pratap Singh, alias Raja Bhaiyya, Congress Legislative Party leader Promod Tiwari, senior BSP leader Swami Prasad Maurya and Sports Minister R K Chaudhury. Rani Ameeta Singh is contesting Assembly polls for the third time from Amethi. All parties have been working overtime to make an impact in Assembly segments falling within VVIP parliamentary constituencies. Vajpayee’s influence in the Lucknow parliament seat, which he has been winning since 1991, had won the four Assembly seats in it for the BJP last time round. So far, Vajpayee has campaigned only in Lucknow. Party sources claim the candidates too were finalised keeping the former Prime Minister’s preferences in mind. The situation in Rae Bareli is no different. The entire Gandhi family — Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka — have been camping here for the last fortnight. The Congress had won two seats in the constituency last time. However, its sitting MLA Akhilesh Singh has since severed ties with the party. In Fatehpur parliamentary constituency, VP Singh, despite his ill health, has been making all efforts to secure victory for his Jan Morcha candidates. BJP chief Rajnath Singh too has toured the area to woo Thakur voters.
