Only losers, no winners in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh may end up as a hung house with no winners and only losers if the assembly elections were to be held on Friday.

Contrary to the general perception that has been fuelled by some pre-poll surveys, no party, at present, is in a position to form the next government on its own.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which is being termed as a front runner for the next assembly elections, is yet to consolidate its position among the 22 per cent Dalits that it had lost out to the BJP in the last Lok Sabha elections.

Reports from the ground zero say that Dalit are still upset with Ms Mayawati over the continuing dominance of upper caste leaders, particularly Brahmins in the party.

“Since the time of late Kanshi Ram, every Dalit government employee has been making financial contribution to the Bahujan Samaj movement but we are disappointed that our notes (money) and votes are actually benefitting upper castes instead of Dalits. Why should a Dalit now support the BSP?” asked Ram Kumar Gautam, a retired government employee and questioned the re-nomination of BSP MP Satish Chandra Misra to the Rajya Sabha.

Moreover, Ms Mayawati’s refusal to reach out to Dalits on a personal level is also damaging the party, particularly, at a time when other politicians are closely interacting with members of the community.

The BSP is also unable to enlist the support of Muslims who feel that the party may finally end up in an alliance with the BJP.

“Muslims, who constitute about 20 per cent of the population, are upset with the Samajwadi Party but cannot trust the BSP because it has formed government thrice with the BJP. If the BSP enters into an alliance with the Congress, we can support this secular formation but on its own, the BSP remains untrustworthy”, said Mohd Khaliq, a small time businessman in Muzaffarnagar.

The Samajwadi Party, on the other hand, is facing a high degree of anti-incumbency factor, with the deteriorating law and order situation and the increasing power crisis as additional factors.

To add to its OBC vote bank, the Samajwadi Party has now brought in former union minister Beni Varma who could swing the 8.5 per cent Kurmi votes within the OBCs.