The Samajwadi Party (SP) has zeroed in on actor-turned-politician Jaya Bachchan to counter the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi.





The SP has roped in Jaya, party’s Rajya Sabha MP, to galvanise workers and strengthen the organisation in the region.



According to sources, Jaya will be visiting Varanasi in the next few days to hold meetings with office bearers and senior leaders from the region on how to strengthen the organisation at the grass-root level and effectively counter the challenge posed by the Bharatiya Janata Party.



The SP was looking for someone who could infuse new life into the demoralised party workers in Varanasi. The SP nominee had finished third in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll in Varanasi and also lost his deposit.



“Jaya Bachchan is a popular figure...her face is familiar to both urban and rural voters....she may succeed in breaking Modi’s hold in the region,” said a senior SP leader here while speaking to Deccan Herald.



Jaya will visit Chandauli, Varanasi’s neighbouring district, where she will be holding discussions with the district leaders and office bearers and review the organisational preparedness, the SP sources said.



The Rajya Sabha MP is expected to chalk out a strategy to “re-energise” party cadre ahead of the next Assembly polls due in about two years.



The SP leadership was worried over the poor performance of party nominees in eastern Uttar Pradesh, especially around Varanasi. Barring Azamgarh, the party lost all its seats in the region.



That the SP was contemplating a bigger role for Jaya became clear in the party’s national convention here a few months ago when she was seen sharing the dais with top party leaders, including Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.



A few days later, she was again seen taking part in another programme and shared stage with Akhilesh’s wife Dimple.

DH News Service