Amid the ongoing political turmoil in Uttar Pradesh, the Election Commission of India announced the poll dates for the state on Wednesday.
With a population of over Rs 19 crore, the state is currently being ruled by the Samajwadi Party. Confusion over who will form the government still remains as the current political situation of UP is indicating that no party can win the elections with full majority.
The main contenders in UP elections are Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party, Congress and BJP.
The state has 403 Assembly seats out of which 85 are reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates.
Here’s a look at the challenges, advantages and strategies of different parties which are preparing to contest the UP elections:
Samajwadi Party
Challenges:
- Law and order situation has been an issue ever since the party came to power in 2012. The party needs to assure the public that the young UP CM will definitely improve the situation if voted to power once again.
- Poor public image of non-performing ministers, sitting MLAs. Ministers, MLAs with alleged charges of corruption, criminal activities have often made headlines in the state for all the wrong reasons.
- Alternative of upper caste because of quota in promotion, misuse of SC/ST Act power tussle in Yadav family
Vote bank:
- The favourite Muslim-Yadav vote bank will be priority for the party. Also, a chunk of Kurmis and Rajputs
(Courtesy: YouTube/UP government)
Strategy:
- Field fresh faces
- Highlight the development works of the party under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav.
- Stitch region wise alliance with small parties
- Zero tolerance towards criminals
Key leaders: Akhilesh Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Azam Khan, Beni Prasad Verma.
Bahujan Samaj Party
Challenges:
- Split in core vote bank of Dalits.
- Convincing the Muslims to vote for the party.
- To woo more upper caste voters rather than banking on the Dalits only.
Vote bank:
- Dalits, OBCs, Muslims and a chunk of upper caste.
Strategy:
- BSP supremo Mayawati has given maximum tickets to Brahmins, Muslims and Dalits to form a winning caste combination.
- Activate party cadre and booth level committees.
Key leaders:
- Mayawati, Naseemuddin Siddiqui, Satish Chandra Mishra
Bharatiya Janata Party
Challenges:
- To woo the voters by explaining them how demonetisation is a good step and for the benefit of the poor.
- There is no CM candidate of the BJP for the elections. The party will have to definitely look out for this factor.
- Growing public disillusionment over local MPs and Centre.
- Like always the party will also try to fight the elections over the issue of construting Ram Mandir
Vote bank:
- Brahmins, Rajput, Vaishyas and MBCs.
(Courtesy: YouTube)
Strategy:
- Winning backwards and SC votes.
- Will try to bank on the surgical strikes to woo the voters.
- Demonetisation will also be used by the BJP to get votes in the state. But it can backfire for them as well.
Key leaders:
- Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Kalraj Mishra, Yogi Adityanath, Rajnath Singh, Keshav Prasad Maurya.
Congress
Challenges:
- To convince the voters that the party is pro-development.
- To woo the voters to vote for them. The party needs to restore the faith of the voters.
- Poor public connect of senior leaders.
Vote bank:
- Brahmins, Muslims and Dalits.
Strategy:
- Prashant Kishor was appointed to revive the floundering fortunes of Congress in UP elections. They have been following the strategy of Kishor, like extensive travelling by Rahul Gandhi.
- Party will try to count on the Brahmin-Muslim vote bank.
- The Congress does not claim to be the torchbearer of one particular caste or religion but tries to accommodate all.
Key leaders:
- Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sheila Dikshit, Raj Babbar, Salman Khurshid, Jitin Prasada, PL Punia.
