SP looking to consolidate Dalit-OBC vote bank

Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party is redrawing its strategy to expand the party's base beyond its Muslim-Yadav core constituencies and win over Dalits and Other Backward Castes (OBCs) to counter the BJP in the upcoming urban local body polls in Uttar Pradesh. SP president Akhilesh Yadav is working with Azad Samaj Party chief Chandrasekhar, who is said to hold influence among Dalits in west Uttar Pradesh, in this bid to consolidate the new vote bank.

This repositioning has been in the works for a while now. The SP conducted a campaign in the state to demand a caste census. In December, Akhilesh Yadav said the SP will conduct a caste census within three months if it is voted to power in Uttar Pradesh. Earlier this month, he unveiled a statue of Dalit leader Kanshi Ram and attended an event to commemorate the birth anniversary of social reformer Bhim Rao Ambedkar in Madhya Pradesh's Mhow.

The SP is also counting on its increased heft in the wake of Shivpal Singh Yadav returning to the party fold. The SP did not fare well in the 2017 urban body polls and could not open its account in any of the 16 mayoral seats. While 14 of these seats were won by the BJP, two went to the BSP. Shivpal Yadav exuded confidence that the SP will win the urban local body polls this time. "Responsibilities have already been given to senior party leaders in their respective areas. We will certainly win the urban local body polls," the SP national general secretary said. "We (Akhilesh and Shivpal) will campaign together as per the plan formulated by the party," he added. The SP has been persistently demanding a caste census. "Ours is the only party that worked on the ground to demand a caste census. Our campaign was very successful. It will certainly prove helpful for the party candidates in this election," said Rajpal Kashyap, state head of the SP's backward wing.

The recent killing of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf in Prayagraj might also help consolidate Muslim votes against the BJP and benefit the SP. "Certainly, the manner in which the two were killed raises suspicion. There was apprehension that they might be killed but the government did not do anything. "We don't do politics of religion but Muslims of the state were with the SP and will remain with us," a senior party leader said. Political analyst Siddharth Kalhans said of the 213 candidates who were in the fray for the 16 posts of mayor in 2017, only 18 could save their deposits.