Of course, support for Behenji is still undaunted among the Dalits, especially in rural areas. But in urban areas, and more generally among other castes, “Behenji” is ironically being painted as “Memsahib” — inaccessible and remote, distanced from her people by layers of securitymen, power brokers and middlemen.

Can the two “national” parties in UP take advantage of the space opened up by the opportunities squandered by parties that had once seemed to be more responsive to ground-level sensitivities in UP? Can the Congress, in particular, capitalise on the fuzzy but growing nostalgia for an earlier time in the state, and the enthusiasms worked up by some of its candidates in a few constituencies?

There is scepticism in UP, even within Congress ranks, even in a place like Kanpur. Here, the party has most staunchly held its ground in a bipolar contest against the BJP. In Kanpur today, Congress oldtimers lament the organisational decay that has led to the party withdrawing from the hard work of political mobilisation. In a place where the Congress is still seen to be strong, veteran Congressmen regret the passing of the baton to workers on hire and to political entrepreneurs.

vandita.mishra@expressindia.com