Excluding the Congress from the BSP-SP alliance is a politically wise move by the two regional parties, a blessing in disguise for the grand old party and could give the BJP cause for concern.
Eyes will also be on Gorakhpur, the Lok Sabha constituency of firebrand BJP leader Yogi Adityanath, and Mau, where jailed gangster-turned-MLA Mukhtar Ansari is in the fray.
That torch is now in our hands. And we will use it to light up the world. I am here tonight to deliver a message of unity and strength, and it is a message deeply delivered from my heart.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said after the virulent attack on army martyr's daughter Gurmehar Kaur, who launched a tirade against ABVP, the country's culture and tradition is not to accept violent means to settle scores.
The BJP claimed that the Congress and the Communists were "disturbing" the atmosphere of varsities and "supporting anti-nationals".
Polling is on by and large peacefully in 51 Assembly constituencies spread over 11 districts of the state.
"The BJP is staring at an imminent defeat in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and in desperation, Modi unleashed his divisive agenda by talking about 'shamshan and kabristan' (graveyard and cremation ground) and power during Ramzan and Diwali," Congress leader Manpreet Singh Badal told reporters here.
The SP chief's retort at an election rally here came against the backdrop of BJP president Amit Shah calling the pre-poll alliance as one "between two corrupt families - one from Delhi and the other from Lucknow."
Prominent contestants in this phase include controversial minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati (SP), who will be facing Amita Singh (Congress) and Garima Singh (BJP) in Amethi, the Lok Sabha constituency of Rahul Gandhi.
The Congress and the NCP are far behind the Sena and the BJP, leading on 14 and 4 seats, respectively, in the 227-member BMC.
Polling is on for 53 Assembly constituencies spread over 12 districts, including the backward Bundelkhand region.
While addressing a rally in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh on Sunday, PM MOdi slammed Congress for question the bravery of the soldiers with regard to the surgical strikes last year.
In a report to Congress detailing China's nuclear power, Pentagon yesterday said the country was deploying new command, control and communications capabilities to its nuclear forces to improve control of multiple units in the field.