Will the Elephant crush the hand or will the hand slap the elephant is to be witnessed in a short while from now, as UP goes to poll in the first phase.

Uttar Pradesh is all set to go for the first phase of assembly polls today. Huge expectations are cast by both the prominent parties in a four cornered contest. The Bahujan Samaj Party is to take on the Congress, while Bharatiya Janata Party and Samajwadi party are expected test waters today. This poll has been a testing time for both the leading parties. In spite of scandals the BSP is keen to capture the power and the Congress feel it a big prestige to gain back control of the state. The Congress scions Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have been on an extensive campaign to aid the Congress in re-capturing the state.

Massive security forces are deployed to foresee the peaceful conducting of polls in the state. The UP Police have hired copters form the private airlines to conduct aerial surveys of the poll areas. To transport the central paramilitary forces, 10 special trains are being run while additional coaches are being attached in some other trains. About 2,200 buses are being roped in for movement of forces and polling parties. On the directions of the EC, vulnerability mapping of violence prone regions is already underway using GPS technology. This has been done to ensure quick back-up of forces in case of emergency. Senior officers said roof-top security comprising paramilitary forces commandos with light and heavy machine guns will be deployed, particularly in Naxal-dominated regions. The entire polling process will be video-graphed. (With input from internet-AarKay)