By Pradeep Kapoor
LUCKNOW: The presence of Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav at the unveiling of huge statue of former Prime Minister V P Singh at Chennai is considered a calculated move to consolidate backwards to strengthen his PDA before next Lok Sabha polls. Former PM VP Singh is known all over the country for taking the initiative to implement the Mandal Commission recommendations giving 27 percent reservations to backwards and OBCs.
The manner in which Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin invited only Akhilesh Yadav for the unveiling of VP Singh’s statue at Presidency College Chennai is also recognition of Akhilesh Yadav as a big backward leader who would play important role in national politics.
Speaking on the occasion Akhilesh Yadav said that unveiling of the statue of VP Singh would certainly send the message all over the country in general and Delhi, UP, Bihar and Haryana in particular. Akhilesh Yadav further said that by implementing Mandal Commission report VP Singh as PM ensured reservation to backwards classes and deprived section of society.
Keeping Lok Sabha polls in mind, Samajwadi Party organised Samajwadi PDA (pichda, dalit and alpsankhayak) cycle yatra to spread the message of party and demand for caste census and expose misrule of BJP government. The yatra involving youth passed through 40 districts and covered 202 assembly constituencies and 42 Lok Sabha seats and covered the distance of 8500 kms in 208 days.
Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav addressed the participants of the yatra along with other party leaders and workers at Itawah and appealed to strengthen PDA to give more seats to Samajwadi Party in Lok Sabha polls.
Similarly Akhilesh Yadav also organised samajik nayay yatra in the state to spread the message of social justice and caste census. The yatra covered 18 districts in seven days and was very well received by the party leaders and workers all through the route.
With these yatras, Akhilesh Yadav has decided to hit the streets to reach out to the masses and spread the message of the party and sensitise voters regarding the main issues to take on BJP in Lok Sabha polls.
Significantly the other opposition party Congress is also preparing very hard through strengthening the organisation and mobilisation of different castes to gain support of the masses for Lok Sabha polls.
The list of UPCC executive made it clear that that the party high command has also followed the formula of PDA.
For the first time Congress gave prominence to backwards, dalits and minorities. Earlier Congress ruled in UP through core vote consisting brahmins, dalits and Muslims. Since Congress wants to project itself as the main party who would take on BJP so the support of powerful backward community is required which could only be attracted by sharing important position in the organisation.
Beside this arrangement, Congress Party leadership is busy to reach out to old guards and former ministers, MPs and MLAs to come out of their comfort zone and help the party. UPCC president Ajai Rai with his aggressive attitude has brought the party into discussion. But there is a perception that lot of efforts are needed to gear up district and city units to face Lok Sabha polls.
Everybody is watching the outcome of assembly polls in five states. If Congress is able to do well then, it would certainly have impact in UP. (IPA Service)
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