Shouldn’t Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan be reciprocating towards Samajwadi Party Akhilesh Yadav’s alliance offer of three seats and one MLC? What ails Ravan from actually not doing so when at the very instant he is for a party that can electorally beat and compete with the BJP.
Mayawati’s downslide in the last few elections has actually brought the curtains down on her political graph with many within the BSP changing their ranks and file either to BJP or SP. However, the high profile exits and defections of Swami Prasad Maurya and others from BJP to SP may hold key behind Ravan’s decision to personally greet Akhilesh Yadav.
But for his demands of seats, the RLD (Rashtriya Lok Dal), an important ally of SP may feel the pinch of having its influence over the sizeable Jat population in the pockets of Western Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh may not like risking it by accomodating Ravan who is a relative newcomer wanting to catch up the 22% Dalit votes to his side at best spoiling it to his advantage lowering the margins for Akhilesh.
Conceding to Akhilesh will be wise and not an exaggeration for Ravan.