By Pradeep Kapoor
LUCKNOW: It is becoming clear that smaller parties can cause damage to all possible alliances and force new alignments for 2019 Lok Sabha elections in UP.
Samajwadi Party led by Akhilesh Yadav is likely to hit by Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia ) of uncle and former minister Shivpal Yadav. The manner in which the Yogi government allotted a big bungalow to Shivpal speaks for the inside support of BJP for his efforts to harm the prospects of Samajwadi Party in the Lok Sabha polls.
During the past two months Shivpal Yadav extensively toured different parts of the state and organised impressive public meetings and road shows to demonstrate his clout. He is targetting the core voters of Samajwadi Party and reaching out to all sections of society.
Since Shivpal Yadav was instrumental in building up the party on behalf of his elder brother Mulayam Singh Yadav, he is aware of the important leaders of the party all over the state and is reaching out to them systematically. He is also in touch with all senior leaders of Samajwadi Party who were feeling ignored by the young Akhilesh Yadav.
Shivpal is said to be gaining the sympathy of party workers as he meets them regularly in contrast to Akhilesh, who has made himself inaccessible to even senior leaders. The veteran of UP politics is also reaching out to prominent leaders of Muslims and other minorities to win over their support.
Significantly Shivpal Yadav has been saying that he had waited for so long for proper adjustment to be made in Samajwadi Party but the time has come to show his strength. He is more critical of the erstwhile administration of his nephew than the Yogi government. It would be worth mentioning here that Shivpal has met chief minister Yogi Adityanath and has publicly praised the governance. The disgruntled SP leader has made it clear that he would field candidates in all the 80 Lok Sabha seats. So whatever his party gets by way of votes would be a loss for Samajwadi Party.
Controversial independent MLA and Thakur leader Raghraj Pratap Singh, popularly known as Raja Bhaiyya, has also announced his plan for form Jansatta Party. He had been a minister in the BJP government of Rajnath Singh and Kalyan Singh as well as later with Mulayam Singh Yadav and son Akhilesh Yadav.
Ever since Akhilesh announced his intention to join hands with Mayawati for an alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls it became clear that Raja Bhaiyya would look for a new alliance. With his undisputed clout in Pratapgarh district and influence among the Thakur community, Raja Bhaiyya may get a few seats from BJP for contesting.
BJP ally and minister Om Prakash Rajbhar of Bhartiya Samaj Party has become very critical of the Yogi government these days. Despite being a minister in the Yogi cabinet, Rajbhar is issuing statements regarding growing corruption in police force and deterioration in law and order.
Om Prakash Rajbhar has good influence among backward classes, especially in eastern UP. He is credited with a better understanding of the ground realities and he has made it clear that he would decide his alliance preferences only two months before the elections.
In order to embarrass the saffron brigade former VHP boss Praveen Thogadiya has announced the formation of his own political party in Ayodhya. During his visit to Ayodhya on October 23 Thogadiya shouted slogans ‘Abki bar Hindu Sarkar’ to take on BJP.
Thogadiya criticised BJP for ignoring the interests of Hindu community and not doing anything for the construction of the Ram temple. He said that the Hindus voted BJP for the construction of the Ram temple, but the party ignored the main issue. Thogadiya said he would announce the name of his party and candidates in Delhi next month. Obviously, his party will damage the chances of BJP, but much depends on the extent of support he may get from the Hindu community. (IPA Service)
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