As spurred by the recent victory in the Lok Sabha elections, SP and Congress of Uttar Pradesh have turned their attention towards expanding their vote base, wooing 'more influential leaders'.
Two prominent leaders of the INDIA bloc are vying to get the attention of Azad Samaj Party MP Chandrashekhar Azad who had a thumping victory in Nagina reserved seat.
While the Nagina seat was taken by Chandrashekhar, another Azad Samaj Party candidate Amar Singh Chaudhary came third in Domariyaganj.
In both the seats, BSP managed to stay only at the fourth position with 1.33 per cent in Nagina and 3.5 percent in Domariyaganj.
“The fact is that Chandrashekhar has emerged as an alternative to Mayawati and her BSP in these elections. His acceptability among Dalit youth has increased substantially and the Dalit votes are rapidly veering towards him from the BSP. We would definitely like to bring (ASP) into the INDIA bloc so that our position gets stronger before the next assembly polls in UP in 2027,” said a senior Samajwadi Party functionary.
RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary, who was then an ally of the SP, had facilitated the meeting between Chandrashekhar and SP President Akhilesh Yadav. But after Jayant Chaudhary dumped the alliance and joined the NDA, Akhilesh viewed it as a betrayal and left Chandrashekhar to fend for himself.
Rahul Gandhi wasted little time in rushing to Chandrashekhar's side after his convoy came under attack last June.
But sources add that Chandrashekhar has already begun strengthening his party organisation monarchy in a run-up to the upcoming assembly elections.
The UP Congress President Ajay Rai said, “The alliance will continue. Will be in play in the forthcoming by-polls also. And there will be seat-sharing discussions."
SP national secretary and chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary says, “Yes, the alliance continues and there will be seat-sharing between the SP and Congress in the by-polls as well."
According to SP sources, they definitely felt that with the induction of Chandrashekhar into the INDIA bloc, their coalition would get fortified to a great extent.
“Dalits will now go with Chandrashekhar because Mayawati has already slipped into political oblivion. If he joins us, the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit and Alpasankhyak) formula will become stronger and the 2027 polls will bring good news for the INDIA bloc,” said an SP functionary.
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