LUCKNOW (IPA Service): Samajwadi Party national President Akhilesh Yadav is under pressure from alliance partner RLD and minority community to take Congress in anti-BJP front in Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh Yadav has shown his reservation to join hands with Congress for an alliance in UP as he is not willing to give more seats to the national party. UP send 80 members to the Lok Sabha, the largest by any state in the country.
Few months back Akhilesh Yadav was reluctant to adjust Congress in Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seats of Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. This statement was different from earlier understanding when Mulayam Singh Yadav and his family members never contested against Gandhi family.
But there is a change in the attitude of Akhilesh Yadav when he said that Congress should bring regional parties in limelight in their areas and support from the back. Going by the performance of Congress in last few elections Akhilesh Yadav is not willing to give more seats. He may adjust Gandhi family members only. But the alliance partner RLD is more keen to bring Congress to anti- BJP front along with dalit leader Chandra Shekhar and his Azad Samaj Party having influence in Western UP.
It would be worth mentioning here RLD had alliance with Samajwadi Party in 2019 Lok Sabha and 2022 assembly polls. But during local bodies polls in some places Samajwadi Party and RLD confronted each other. The fact remains that Akhilesh Yadav supported RLD chief Jayant Choudhry for Rajya Sabha but there is a lack of communication between the two leaders. It may be noted that during Bharat Jodo Yatra of Rahul Gandhi RLD extended support and welcomed with good presence of leaders and workers all along the route in Western UP.
There is realisation in Jayant Choudhry and his party that the shift in the mood of minority community for Congress was quite visible during Bharat Jodo Yatra. He feels beside backwards, minority community and dalit could also support the alliance of SP, RLD and Azad Samaj Party of Chandra Shekhar Ravan.
With BSP playing aggressive Muslim card with the slogan of Pichda dalit and alpsankhyak (backward, dalit and minority community) is out to damage SP and Congress, Jayant Choudhry feels that Congress should also be a part of alliance.
Samajwadi Party, which got continuous support of Muslim community since 1990 when Mulayam Singh Yadav as CM protected Babri Mosque, is also under pressure from the minority community to join hands with Congress. Despite getting maximum support from Muslim community in 2022 assembly polls, Akhilesh Yadav is facing wrath of community leaders for not taking bold stand on the issues concerning the community.
After realising the anger in the Muslim community Akhilesh Yadav has now started keeping the Muslim face of the party since it’s inception Mohd Azam Khan in good humour. The SP supremo has now started taking Mohd Azam Khan with him to social functions to give message to the community.
There is no doubt that Muslim community is watching Congress with great interest and waiting for second phase of Bharat Jodo Yatra of Rahul Gandhi which may touch key Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.
All eyes are now on forthcoming meeting of opposition leaders where Akhilesh Yadav and Jayant Choudhry may get the opportunity to discuss the future strategy to face crucial 2024 Lok Sabha polls. (IPA Service)
By Pradeep Kapoor