 "Muslim vote holds the balance in the 1st phase of UP polls")
Gearing up for the political battle in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party are eyeing the Muslim vote in the 73 assembly seats that will go to the polls in the first phase, on February 11.
The party that takes the lead in the first leg will stay one jump ahead of its rivals in the remaining six phases.
Traditionally, the Muslims of western UP have voted for the BSP while the Jats would stay with Ajit Singh’s RLD.
The BJP benefited from the polarisation, which took place because of the communal riots in Muzaffarnagar in 2013, when the Congress accused the ruling SP, its current ally, of being in league with the BJP.
Though the RLD too was expected to be part of the SP-Congress alliance, the regional outfit backed out because it did not get as many seats to contest in as it wanted.
Sources said this could be a ploy to ensure that the Jats stayed divided between the RLD and the BJP, thus weakening the latter.
Besides, SP managers were worried that aligning with the RLD might have pushed the Muslim voters away from them into the BSP camp.
Both the SP-Congress alliance and the BSP are attacking the BJP for trying to polarise the voters of western UP. This was evident in the Rahul Gandhi-Akhilesh Yadav road show in Agra and BSP chief Mayawati’s rallies in the area. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Meerut on Saturday and branded his political rivals as corrupt and casteist.
Mayawati is shooting for the Muslim vote in the entire state and has given the election ticket to 100 members of the community. This, coupled with her Dalit base, can tilt the balance in her favour, said BSP strategists.
The Muslims supported the SP in large numbers in the 2012 assembly polls. The Yadavs, the core supporters of the SP, were the other voter group that ensured the party’s victory.
The Akhilesh-Rahul team, apart from wooing the Muslims and Yadavs, hopes to win over the upper castes, including the Brahmins and Vaishyas.
The party that takes the lead in the first leg will stay one jump ahead of its rivals in the remaining six phases.
Traditionally, the Muslims of western UP have voted for the BSP while the Jats would stay with Ajit Singh’s RLD.
Also Read
That social alliance was ruptured in the Lok Sabha elections of 2014, when the Jats voted for the BJP and the Muslims were divided between the SP and BSP. The Congress’s performance was below par.
The BJP benefited from the polarisation, which took place because of the communal riots in Muzaffarnagar in 2013, when the Congress accused the ruling SP, its current ally, of being in league with the BJP.
Though the RLD too was expected to be part of the SP-Congress alliance, the regional outfit backed out because it did not get as many seats to contest in as it wanted.
Sources said this could be a ploy to ensure that the Jats stayed divided between the RLD and the BJP, thus weakening the latter.
Besides, SP managers were worried that aligning with the RLD might have pushed the Muslim voters away from them into the BSP camp.
Both the SP-Congress alliance and the BSP are attacking the BJP for trying to polarise the voters of western UP. This was evident in the Rahul Gandhi-Akhilesh Yadav road show in Agra and BSP chief Mayawati’s rallies in the area. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Meerut on Saturday and branded his political rivals as corrupt and casteist.
Mayawati is shooting for the Muslim vote in the entire state and has given the election ticket to 100 members of the community. This, coupled with her Dalit base, can tilt the balance in her favour, said BSP strategists.
The Muslims supported the SP in large numbers in the 2012 assembly polls. The Yadavs, the core supporters of the SP, were the other voter group that ensured the party’s victory.
The Akhilesh-Rahul team, apart from wooing the Muslims and Yadavs, hopes to win over the upper castes, including the Brahmins and Vaishyas.
One subscription. Two world-class reads.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
SAVE 25%
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Subscribe
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
SAVE 25%