http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=256360
BSP, SP gear up for bypolls Statesman News Service NEW DELHI, 1 JUNE: Putting the Lok Sabha polls behind, the two principal players in Uttar Pradesh, SP and BSP, have started gearing up for the by-polls to 11 Assembly seats, being billed as a semi-final for the 2012 state Assembly elections. The stage is also set for the by-election to Firozabad Lok Sabha constituency following the resignation of Mr Akhilesh Yadav, who has also won from Kannauj. Of the 11 seats, the Congress holds two, Padrauna and Jhansi, SP five, BJP two, RLD and JD-U one each while BSP had none. The challenge to re-establish their grip in the state for both the SP and the BSP is palpable following their poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls. The pressure would be more, as a resurgent Congress with 21 parliamentary seats would be in an aggressive mood to make optimum use of the newfound “good will”. Expectedly, both BSP and SP have opted for knee jerk reactions with Miss Mayawati’s administration ordering reshuffle of civil and police officials and also sacking over 130 chairpersons of corporations and boards. The SP chief, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, has dissolved all state units including that of UP. To counter the Rahul-Priyanka charishma of Congress, the SP is likely to project Akhilesh Yadav as a new generation leader. He is likely be given key role in campaigning and selection of candidates. “One round of the war is over. It’s a crucial battle ahead,” said SP key strategist, Mr Mohan Singh. A section of SP leaders including Mr Janeshwar Mishra has impressed upon Mr Mulayam Singh the need to revive the party’s socialist base. “Retaining all the five assembly seats will itself be a decisive win to indicate that we will fight the 2012 assembly as a strong contender for power in Lucknow,” said one SP leader. The BSP, whose Mission 2009 to elevate Miss Mayawati as Prime Minister has come a cropper, is analysing its losses. There is much need for introspection in the SP too as of the 17 MLAs fielded by SP only three could make it to Lok Sabha. SP sources said there is already discussion on how Congress won, while Mr Yadav, once touted as “Maulana Mulayam”, seems to have lost Muslim votes. However, SP leaders feel that Dalits and OBC class have backed them as BSP has lost at least 8 reserved seats to SP. “The anti-incumbency factor is not only against BSP but also against the sitting legislators of all parties, including SP. ------------------------------------ ---- INFORMATION OVERLOAD? Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to [email protected], OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/ PARTICIPATE:- On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to [email protected] TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:- If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to [email protected] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/ Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[email protected] mailto:[email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
