Undeterred with the poor performance of the party in past one decade, including bad show in 2007 assembly elections, the ticket-seekers feel that they can catapult themselves to Parliament, if given a party ticket.

In the past fortnight, the party office has received nearly 500 bio-data for 80 constituencies in the state, party sources said.

The party has only nine MPs and 22 MLA from the state, which is termed as most politically crucial.

"The list is swelling every day with reports of the Samajwadi party entering into an alliance with the Congress.

On an average we are getting 15-20 applications every day," a senior party leader said.

While a few applicants have sent their bio-data directly to UPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi, others have adopted a different approach and relying on party bosses in New Delhi.

Applicants are approaching party's state incharge Digvijay Singh and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi, whom they believe could help them not only in securing a ticket but ensuring victory too.

"Everyone is claiming of being only winning candidates in their constituency. The applicants include former ministers, ex-MPs, district level office-bearers, social workers and even government officials", he said.

A former party MP, AP Gautam has staked claim from Barabanki. He was elected for Lok Sabha once on party ticket in 1985. For this seat his candidature is being challenged by a government employee-- an official in Northern Railway, who has also staked claim for Mohanlalganj and Sultanpur seats also as his second choice.

In his application, he expressed his desire to serve the country, saying that he was even ready to quit his job which "fetch him a salary of Rs 35,000 per month".

Interestingly, party stalwart Sanjay Singh is already preparing to contest from Sultanpur seat on high command's directive.

Other bigwigs like party's sitting MP Rajesh Mishra from Varanasi have also found an opponent in Shamnath Yadav, who is trying every trick to convince party bosses that he is the most fit candidate for this seat.

According to party insiders Ferozabad, which has been converted to general seat from reserved after delimitation, has emerged as the most sought after constituency with nearly 25 applications, sources said.

Interesting, there are three constituencies Amethi, Raebareli and Kanpur where not even a single candidate has staked his claim till now.