The Vote that Counts

The UP elections will test the mettle of many leaders, but none more than Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's. A good showing in the state would also give the Manmohan Singh government a much-needed fillip especially after the 2G scam and Anna Hazare's onslaught. A 70-100 seats tally would be seen as a victory for Gandhi who has focussed on the state for more than two years. It would also make way for him to stake claim for the PM's chair, if he chooses to do so. For Singh and his government, a good performance would pave the path for economic policies that have come to a halt, including FDI in retail. Never before has UP been more important for the Congress Party.