Most residents of a village in Uttar Pradesh live in mortal fear of the inability to pay back loans they have taken from micro-finance companies whose agents are not above threats and coercion.

The strongman's release has led to speculation on whether his long friendship with UP CM Adityanath will lead to his return in the politics of Purvanchal.

Whether it is merely a coincidence or an experiment carried out by the BJP top brass, Yogi Adityanath is being subtly besieged in his own bastion.

Eight members of the ABVP have been arrested by the police, leading to further protests by the organisation.

The organiser of a Nishad Mahakumbh, Jai Prakash Nishad, is a former BJP man who is taking on Sanjay Nishad, the influential leader of BJP's ally, Nishad party.

Despite the scorching heat in many parts of Uttar Pradesh, the state government woke up only when a large number of deaths came to the fore through media reports. But the government claims the deaths were not due to heat-related illnesses.

Tiwari, a cabinet minister between 1996 to 2007, passed away on May 16. His death marks the end of a chapter in Purvanchal's politics which was marked by the criminalisation of politics, caste-based gang war and gave rise to Brahmin-Thakur politics.

Though the Forest Rights Act was implemented in 2006, residents of Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary speak of evictions, the demolition of their homes and arrests for construction even under government schemes.

In two districts, poor villagers who have lived for generations and received government funds to build houses and toilets have now been slapped with notices claiming they have occupied Gram Sabha land.

After a prolonged and united protest by local journalists, the leadership had promised action against officers who framed journalists in the paper leak case to save their own skin.

ABVP members arrived at Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology to submit a memorandum against the college fest hosting DJ Zabylla, whose show they claimed was 'obscene'.

Vantangiyas, who have been inhabiting 'forest villages' across Gorakhpur and Maharajganj districts of UP for long, are still not allowed to own land, depriving them of rights accorded by Forest Rights Act.

Ajit Kumar Ojha, Digvijay Singh and Manoj Gupta were arrested by the police and named as accused in the paper leak case.

Two journalists from Hindi daily 'Amar Ujala' even claimed that during their arrests, the police manhandled their colleagues and vandalised their office.

The BJP has devised a new vote bank in Uttar Pradesh called 'beneficiaries' (of welfare schemes), which the party thinks would offset the potential losses predicted due to price rise and unemployment.

While Gorakhpur is often portrayed as a ‘pro-Yogi saffron stronghold’, various fault lines have existed in Adityanath’s supposed bastion for a long time.

From canvassing in ambulances to shedding copious tears over dead relatives, some political leaders have turned the tide in their favour by tugging at voters' heartstrings.

Even though the forested villages in Maharajganj district have seen agricultural activity for the last 100 years, farm land has not yet been consolidated, impeding efforts to fence it properly.

Mohammed Meraj Ahmed rides his customised bike every day in his village and adjoining areas, and urges people to vote for the SP.