Incumbent MP Yogi Adityanath, a Bhojpuri singer and a controversial politician's son will try their luck in the Gorakhpur parliamentary seat.

Adityanath, 37, is contesting for the fourth time on a BJP ticket from this constituency; he has won the last three polls. Disciple of the local Gorakhnath Mutt, Adityanath draws his strength from the Mutt which enjoys wide respect in the region.

Fighting on the twin issues of "Hindutva and development", the Yogi makes no bones about Ram temple being an important issue for him.

At his rallies and public meetings, he asks the people to raise both their hands and shout "Jai Shri Ram" and his polemical speeches whip up hysteria in many rallies.

"If I win then Hindutva wins and when Hindutva wins the country wins," he often says at his public meetings.

Locals feel though Yogi will finally romp home to victory, he is facing a challenge from BSP candidate Vinay Shankar Tiwari, son of controversial politician Hari Shankar Tiwari. This is Vinay's second Lok Sabha election; he lost the by-election in Ballia in December 2007. Vinay, a law graduate, says Gorakhpur has suffered as "development has been zero here."

Enumerating his plans for the constituency, Vinay told PTI, "Japanese Encephalitis -- which leads to the deaths of hundreds of children every year-- and the annual floods are the main issues. I want to ensure vaccination of all vulnerable kids and establish proper drainage system to face the floods."

He also wants to provide more employment to the youth in his constituency. "A public sector fertiliser factory was shut down during the NDA regime and the employees were given voluntary retirement. I want to restart the factory," he said.

Samajwadi Party candidate and Bhojpuri singer-actor Manoj Tiwari -- a Brahmin like Vinay -- may cut into his votes. Manoj is a native of Bihar, but spent some years in Gorakhpur while struggling to make a name for himself. He is banking on his roadshows and glamour to win votes.

Manoj is aided by his brother-in-law Arun Pandey, a cricket player of some repute. He will also have actor Sanjay Dutt campaigning for him. Though this may attract big crowds, whether it will translate into votes remains to be seen.

Image: Patients of encephalitis with their relatives at a hospital in Gorakhpur town, about 265 km east of state capital Lucknow, August 18, 2005.

Also read: UP killer brain fever toll 681 | India Votes 2009

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