The Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance has fielded a local celebrity, Sampat Pal of Gulabi Gang fame, in Manikpur. It’s one of the few decisions that aren’t caste-driven, but locals don’t give her much of a chance though the media — particularly foreign — has been flocking to record her campaign. BJP and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have fielded candidates RK Patel and Chandra Bhan Singh Patel respectively. Abhishek Dwivedi, a candidate from Swabhimaan Party, hopes that the Brahmins who are disgruntled by the Patel candidates will vote for him. “What hurts me is that my hard work in the social sector, my management degree isn’t important for the voters now. What matters to them is my caste,” said Dwivedi. There are rumours that politicians have even sought the help of Babli Kol, who belongs to the Kol tribal community that forms the largest vote bank in tribal villages such as Naagar — a nearby village to Lakshmanpur.