SUNAOLI: Without holding two passports, a handful of residents in the border town of Nautanwa in eastern UP enjoy the benefits of dual citizenship. Every morning, they cross over to Sunaoli, the busy Indo-Nepal border town, and cross over to Belahiya in Nepal.
They open their shops there and after the day's business, come back to their families late in the evening in Maharajganj, which is going to polls on March 3.
Ram Singh, who has been running a garments shop in Belahiya for more than 20 years, said, "We are worried about the border closing on the day of polls. For an election, the Sunaoli border is closed for 24 hours. This time, however, we have heard that the shutdown will last for 48 hours."
While Singh and other shopkeepers sounded positive about the BJP government, they collectively say that in Nautanwa, the local dynamics is at play.
"The situation of water and electricity supply is much better in Nepal than in India. There is more cleanliness too. In the border towns, the conditions of roads has also improved," said Rajesh Yadav, a shopkeeper from Piprahwa in Siddharth Nagar.
Many voters in Nautanwa are yet to decide who will get their vote on Thursday.
The sitting MLA, Amanmani Tripathi, who had won as an independent in 2017, is again in the fray.
He is the son of Amarmani Tripathi, a four-time MLA from the constituency.
The incumbent's chances have bolstered this time as BSP has given him a ticket.
However, Amanmani has not been "present" in the area, said resident of Lalain Paisiya village Triloki.
BSP worker Rampreet Zakhmi though defends him by saying he was being harassed by CBI and police.
While Amanmani's father Amarmani and mother Madhumani are serving life sentence for the murder of Madhumita Shukla, the sitting MLA has been accused of killing his wife Sara in July 2015.
CBI had filed a chargesheet against him in February 2017 and he was sent to jail.
Out on bail, Amanmani is campaigning extensively with his second wife Oshin and other family members.
In a rousing address at Paisiya Degree College on Monday, Amanmani had tried to mobilise Muslim voters.
"During Ramzan, Muslim men were dragged outside the Eidgah and thrown behind bars. It was I who reached the police station in support of our brothers and ensured that prayers were offered," said Aman.
Muslims account for the highest voteshare and both Aman and his rival Kunwar Kaushal Kishore alias Munna Singh from SP are going all out to woo Muslim families. Munna, then in Congress, had defeated Aman from SP in 2012.
Meanwhile Rishi Datt, the Nishad Party candidate is hoping to win due to the division of Muslim votes between SP and BSP.
Om Prakash Yadav from Nautanwa market said, "Munna's record as MLA was not impressive either. Later, he told voters he was suffering from cancer. As a result, Amanmani was elected in 2017 but he too remained missing. Munna is not popular but I don't think Rishi has a chance. He is an outsider."
Yadav added that Aman had been successful in pulling crowds though.
"His father has done a lot for Maharajganj district. People still remember him fondly. That is why we have a soft spot for Aman," said Yadav.
