ALLAHABAD: Apart from major political parties - Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party, Apna Dal and Rastriya Lok Dal - contesting the assembly polls, candidates of lesser known smaller parties including Bharatiya Shakti Chetna Party, Adim Samaj Party, Bahujan Mukti party, Jai Hind-Jai Bharat Party, Rastriya Samaj paksha, Yuva Vikas party, Bahujan Awam party, Bharatiya Sangam party, Pragatisheel Samaj party, Bharatiya Kranti Rakshak Dal and Ambedkar Yug party are also in the fray in all 12 assembly seats of the district.A total of 181 candidates are contesting in all 12 assembly seats of Allahabad.Interestingly, there is a long list of smaller parties whose names have never been heard. Their candidates are in the fray especially in the rural constituencies.Voters are too curious to know the names of these smaller parties since their candidates had filed their nomination to contest elections from 12 assembly seats of Sangam city.Ironically, the candidates of other smaller parties like Bahujan Mukti Morcha, Rastriya Samajwadi Party, National Democratic Party, Bahujan Awam Party, Sarva Sambhav party, Bharatiya Kranti Dal, Sarva Kalyan Loktantrik party, Ambedkar Samaj Party, Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal, Pragatisheel Manav Samaj party, Yuva Vikas Party , Republican Party of India, Rastriya Samaj Paksha, Bharatiya Rastriya Jansatta, Nationalist Congress party, National Democratic People's front, Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, Sarva Kalyan Loktantrik Party, Rastriya Ulema Council, Rastriya Jan Shanti Party, Desh Shakti Party, Rastriya Nishad Ekta party, Bhartiya Kisan Sena Loktantrik, Jan Akhikar Party, Rastriya Krantikari Samajwadi party, Bahujan Awam, Sarva Jan Kalyan Loktantrik party,Rastrawadi Pratap Sena, Praja Shanti Samdarshi Party, Lok Gathbandhan party, Rastriya Manav Samman Party, Anjan Admi Party, Peace Party, Adim Samaj Party, Bharatiya Shakti Chetna and Jan Akhikar Manch etc had filed their nominations from all 12 assembly seats of Allahabad comprising City North, City South, City West, Phulpur, Meja, Karchana, Bara, Koraon, Soraon, Pratappur, Handia, and Phaphamau.Political experts claim that smaller parties find birth to every assembly election at an alarming rate. Some of these political outfits have weird names like the 'Humlog Morcha' that reminds one more of a soap opera.Till last year, the total number of political parties from UP registered with EC was 474. Of these, 91 operate from state capital. On the dates of filing of nominations, names of smaller parties surface and many of outfits will to contest elections. According to EC's official records, the 2012 UP elections witnessed almost 100% jump in the number of smaller political parties. In 2007, there were 103 such parties and their number jumped to 204 in 2012.

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