The outfit enjoys support among the Rajbhar caste present in several constituencies in the belt.
In places like Badaun, Etah, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur and Farrukhabad, the Mahan Dal has emerged as an important player. It had allied with the Congress in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.
The party enjoys support among the politically active Shakya, Maurya, Kushwaha and Saini communities.
In Bareilly and its neighbouring areas, the Ittehad-e-Millat Council plans to contest a dozen seats, but has not taken a final call.
Speculation is rife that another faction of the Apna Dal, headed by Krishna Patel, may be accommodated in eastern UP by the Congress, which is in talks with the ruling Samajwadi Party for a 'maha-gathbandhan'.
