Why Samajwadi Party is keen to build a grand alliance in Uttar Pradesh

New Delhi: In a bid to prevent shifting of the Muslim vote bank, the Samajwadi Party state unit chief, Mr Shivpal Yadav is desperately trying to stitch up a mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) on the lines of the one attempted in Bihar.
Following the raging feud in the Yadav clan, the  Muslims, who were loyal to the SP have begun shifting towards the BSP.

Sources said that with SP supremo, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav’s backing, Mr Shivpal Yadav has already begun holding talks with the JD(U) leader, Mr Sharad Yadav and RLD chief, Mr Ajit Singh.

It may be recalled that the Congress too is in talks with the JD(U) and the RLD for a proposed grand alliance for the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. The Congress has not met the SP leaders and in the event of a split, the party could throw its weight behind Akhilesh Yadav, sources said.

Besides Muslims, the SP also fears losing its core vote bank of the Yadavs if it failed to cobble up a grand alliance. The family war has also apparently “disillusioned” the Yadavs and they could possibly be looking at the BJP, sources said.

A senior SP leader maintained that the Yadavs, who prefer to be on the winning side “generally tilt towards the party which has the possibility of coming to power in the state.” “At this juncture with a weakened SP, the BJP is the only alternative for the Yadavs,” the SP leader said.

It was argued that the erosion of the Muslim-Yadav votebank would stop if the SP could stitch up a grand alliance and project itself as one of  the main contenders in the race to power.

Claiming that the Yadavs are “nationalists”, the BJP strategists have decided to lure this vote bank by making the surgical strikes against Pakistan one of its main election issues.

On October 27, BJP president, Mr Amit Shah struck at the heart of the Yadav land — Etawah and praised the Army for surgical strikes. By holding a rally at  Etawah, the BJP hopes to influence adjacent Yadav dominated constituencies which include Marthana, Jaswant Nagar, Aurya, Diviyapur, Bithuna, Sikandra,  Mainpuri, Karhal and Sirsagunj.

However, while Shipal Yadav is trying for a grand alliance, his nephew and UP chief minister, Mr Akhilesh Yadav is yet to open his cards.