With polls approaching, SP seeks to woo backward classes

Seeking to woo the backward classes ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls, Samajwadi Party will stage two 'rath yatras' this month to tell about initiatives taken by its government in Uttar Pradesh for their betterment.
The Yatra's, to be flagged off by party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, will particularly highlight UP government's decision to include 17 backward castes in Scheduled Caste list, state minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati said today.
"We will be taking out Samajik Nyay Yatra' and '17 Backward Class Justice Yatra'-- on October 24. They will cover the entire state and highlight works done by the SP for the welfare of backward community," he said.

"The inclusion of 17 backward castes in SC category will also be highlighted, so that people know reality of other parties," Prajapati said.
The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of backward leaders with SP supremo Yadav and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
A rally of backward communities will also be held on December 14. It will be addressed by Mulayam Singh and Akhilesh, among others, Prajapati said.

Earlier speaking at the meeting, Mulayam accused BJP of running a communal campaign, and said his party would counter it through its approach for social justice and convince people that SP was the only option before them in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

Yadav said a third front was the only alternative before the voters as they were "fed up of both BJP and Congress."
He said SP would play a major role in the formation of third front after the elections.