The Samajwadi Party on Tuesday announced an alliance with the Nishad Party, Janwadi Party (Socialist) and the Rasthriya Samanta Dal for the April-May Lok Sabha election in Uttar Pradesh. The SP has earlier tied up with the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) to take on the BJP.
"Nishad Party, Janwadi Party (Socialist) and Rashtriya Samanta Dal will work for ensuring success of alliance candidates throughout the state," SP chief Akhilesh Yadav told a joint press conference with leaders of these parties.
Yadav alleged that the BJP was using governor, government agencies and the media for its campaign. Attacking the BJP, he said, "The main issue for BJP in these polls are only opposition and 'chowkidar' and campaigners of the BJP are governor, government agencies and media."
Akhilesh Yadav's effort appears to be aimed at stitching a caste arithmetic under the SP-BSP combination – Nishad, Dalit, Muslim, Yadav and non-Yadav backward communities – to put up a good fight to the ruling BJP. Headed by Sanjay Singh Chauhan, the Janwadi Party Socialist party has a strong hold among the Chauhan community, an extreme backward caste of the OBC category, which has a considerable presence across Eastern UP.
Replying to a question, Yadav said, "My team is working on issues that are to be taken up. We will come out with a manifesto soon."
