Samajwadi Party’s Strategic Inclusion of OBC Candidates:
In a move to directly challenge the BJP, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav has strategically included candidates from Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the party’s second list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections. With the BJP considering the OBC category as its largest vote bank, Yadav aims to counter their influence and appeal to a broader base. Out of the 27 candidates announced so far by the SP, 15 belong to the OBC category, indicating a deliberate focus on the PDA (Pichhda, Dali, and Alpsankhyak) cards against the BJP-led NDA.
PDA Equation in the Second List:
The second list of candidates released by the Samajwadi Party reinforces its commitment to addressing the interests of marginalized communities. Four of the eleven candidates on the list belong to backward communities, while five candidates are from Scheduled Castes. The inclusion of non-Yadav OBC candidates is particularly significant as it counters the criticism faced by the party for neglecting Scheduled Castes. The SP’s focus on inclusivity and representation aims to regain the trust of these communities.
Among the candidates, notable names include Afzal Ansari from Ghazipur, Harendra Malik from Muzaffarnagar, Neeraj Maurya from Aonla, Rajesh Kashyap from Shahjahanpur, and Usha Varma from Hardoi. Additionally, the party has nominated candidates such as Ram Pal Rajvanshi from Mishrikh, A.R.K. Chaudhary from Mohanlalganj, and A.S.P. Singh Patel from Pratapgarh. Ramesh Gautam from Bahraich, Veerendra Singh from Chandauli, and Shreya Varma from Gonda are also among the candidates.
Addressing Criticism and Internal Dissatisfaction:
The Samajwadi Party has faced criticism and internal dissatisfaction regarding its candidate selections. The nomination of Jaya Bachchan, Alok Ranjan, and Ramji Lal Suman for Rajya Sabha seats drew criticism from Pallavi Patel, the head of the party’s Scheduled Caste cell. Patel accused the party of favouring candidates from higher castes and threatened not to vote for them in the Rajya Sabha elections. Similarly, the absence of a Muslim candidate in the SP’s Rajya Sabha list led to Salim Sherwani leaving the party, citing the party’s failure to include Muslim representation despite repeated requests. In response to these concerns, the SP’s second list of candidates aims to address the dissatisfaction among Scheduled Castes. Rajpal Kashyap, commenting on the new list, stated that it includes representatives from various Scheduled Caste communities, emphasizing the party’s efforts to address their concerns.
Conclusion:
Akhilesh Yadav’s strategic inclusion of OBC candidates in the Samajwadi Party’s second list demonstrates the party’s commitment to countering the BJP’s influence and appealing to a wider voter base. By focusing on inclusivity and representation of marginalized communities, the SP aims to regain trust and address internal dissatisfaction. The upcoming Lok Sabha Elections will test the effectiveness of these strategic moves as the SP strives to position itself as a strong contender in Uttar Pradesh politics.
-Prisha Jaiswal