As UP elections come closer, moves are on for big political upheavals in the state, too. Sensing the change in political winds in the state, dozens of SP leaders from Purvanchal and western UP are eager to leave the cycle and ride the elephant instead. They can be seen lobbying aggressively to get a BSP ticket; at the same time, a big and powerful Thakur lobby from the SP is looking at an opportune time to join the BJP. They are said to be in constant touch with Rajnath Singh.