The Samajwadi Party, under Akhilesh Yadav, is trying all that it takes to electorally compete with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is known for its organisation, might and muscle of addressing public gatherings around issues of the ordinary — from paper leaks to unemployment. The BJP is pushing itself beyond the finish line to reconfigure its arithmetic alliances that will surely enhance its scopes.
Aligning with the Rashtriya Lok Dal has been one of the tactical moves of the party, considering the influence of the recent farmers’ agitation in western Uttar Pradesh, placing it comfortably ahead of the BJP. However, the party would have to stretch itself a little in Purvanchal by entering into understanding, instead of compromising with the Congress.
The situation is similar to the party’s equation with Om Prakash Rajbhar’s party, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party. It has deep inroads in this constituency, especially amongst the lower strata of the Scheduled Caste population. However, Mayawati might want to exploit this advantage to the SP tacitly and discreetly, supporting the BJP wherever the former looks in a position of advantage, as for their bitterness following the rout of the SP-BSP alliance in the 2019 parliamentary elections with bua and bhatija turning their back against each other.
Thus, for Akhilesh Yadav, stitching with smaller social and political groups surely send warning bells for the incumbent indulging in competitive displays of prachaar and prasaar intimidated by the swings in Akhilesh’s favour for his prolific poll pose between the electorate.