By Pradeep Kapoor
LUCKNOW: The successful launch of Mission 2027 by the Samajwadi Party assembly election campaign at a massive rally at Dadri on Sunday boosted the morale of leaders and workers in Western UP, considered to be stronghold of ruling BJP.
The selection of the venue at Dadri was done by former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav keeping 140 assembly seats in mind.
The formula of Pichda, Dalit and Alpsangkhayak (PDA) was highlighted by Akhilesh Yadav when he did jalabhishek at the statue of Mihir Bhoj in a bid to win over the backwards classes.
By holding the rally, Samajwadi Party wants to consolidate Gujjars, Jats, Tiyagi, Dalits and Muslims to capture power in 2027 assembly polls.
Significantly, SP made significant gains in this region via alliance with RLD of Jayant Singh, who is now a minister in the central government and a part of NDA.
Participants from 34 districts had gathered for the Samajwadi Party Samajik Samanta rally, and Akhilesh’s message was aimed at a broader consolidation of communities.
Akhilesh Yadav and other speakers focussed on growing unemployment, farmers’ crises, lack of development for the people of the region. He alleged that government was acquiring of land in Ayodhya, Varanasi and other places but adequate compensation was not being given to farmers.
Commenting on the inauguration of airport at Jewar in Gautam Budh Nagar by PM Narendra Nagar, Akhilesh Yadav said that while seven airports were inaugurated in UP by the BJP government, as many as six remain non-functional.
There is a growing realisation within the Samajwadi Party that whichever party or alliance establishes earlier gain in this region goes on to make significant sway in the other parts of the state as well. That is why the SP election campaign was launched from Dadri.
The success of the rally is likely to help Samajwadi Party in galvanizing the organisation and energise the party leaders in the region. This will also help in early selection of candidates.
The successful rally also helped Samajwadi Party in setting up political narratives and media perception, thus enabling it to send the message at the ground level.
Launching scathing attacks at the double engine governments for ignoring backwards, dalits and minorities, Akhilesh Yadav also made the important announcement of the revival of old pension schemes initiated by Samajwadi Party governments in the past. He also promised Rs 40,000 annually to women. (IPA Service)
