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It’s long been said that “the way to Delhi is through UP” - short for Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state with more than 240 million people. If UP was an independent country, it would be the fifth largest in the world - just after India, China, US and Indonesia - and ahead of Pakistan, Nigeria or Brazil. On the other side is Rahul Gandhi, the Congress party leader who is often called the face of India’s opposition.
The state elects the largest number of MPs - 80 - and analysts say a party that does well in the state generally rules India. BJP won 71 seats from the state in 2014 and 62 in 2019. Eight of India’s prime ministers trace their roots to UP - even Mr Modi, who is originally from Gujarat, chose the state to make his debut as an MP in 2014 by contesting from the ancient city of Varanasi. In 2019, he won the seat for the second time and is contesting again from there. Born into India’s most famous political dynasty - his great-grandfather, grandmother and father were prime ministers - Mr Gandhi faces the uphill task of reviving his party’s fortunes after it suffered massive defeats in the last two general elections against Mr Modi’s BJP.
Over the years, he has been accused - sometimes by his own party members - of being a reluctant politician who isn't serious enough to put up a tough fight to the popular prime minister.
But since 2022, he has travelled the length and breadth of the country to counter that opinion and position himself as a spirited leader.
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