Former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has already entered into alliance with RLD of Jayant Choudhry and Mahan Dal and talks are in progress with other parties. Akhilesh Yadav held joint rally with Mahan Dal few months back and is involved in discussion with other smaller parties and caste groups. Samajwadi Party national President wants to make rainbow coalition of various castes for wider reach of party.

Former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav is in touch with Chandrasheker Ravan of Bheem Party which has significant presence in Dalits. With his aggressive posture and willing to hit streets on the issues concerning dalits, Chandrashekhar Ravan has put up challenge before BSP national President and former CM Mayawati.

It would be worth mentioning here that during last four years, BSP national President Mayawati witnessed sharp erosion in her support base and exodus of senior party leaders and workers. Instead of playing the role of opposition leader, Mayawati was seen advising Yogi government on the issue of governance.

It may be mentioned that Samajwadi Party had entered into alliance with Mayawati and her party in 2019 which helped BSP in getting seats in Lok Sabha while she miserably failed to transfer her votes for SP candidates. With a great difficulty SP was able to retain its five seats only. Soon after the elections, Mayawati ended the alliance with Samajwadi Party. Without expressing his anger publicly, Akhilesh Yadav started admitting important leaders from BSP in his party.

Recently Mayawati expelled 11 BSP MLAs from the party and nine of them are in touch with Akhilesh Yadav in view of next assembly polls. Much significance is being attached to the manner in which Akhilesh Yadav organised Dalit Deepawali to make inroads in support base of Mayawati.

During Dalit Deepawali, Samajwadi Party leaders and workers not only put light near the statues of dalit icons but dalit bastis were also lighted. Goodwill gesture by Akhilesh Yadav was very well appreciated by Dalits who were willing to part company of Mayawati. Akhilesh Yadav is also busy with negotiations with family members of late Sonelal Patel who were opposed to Anupriya Patel.

There have been meetings between Samajwadi Party and rival faction of Apna Dal led by widow and daughter of late Sonelal Patel. This alliance will help Samajwadi Party in making inroads in powerful kurmi backward community.

The manner in which former minister and President of Suheldeo Rajbhar Om Prakash Rajbhar has publicly condemned BJP and refused the offer to meet national leaders, has made it clear that he could join hands with Akhilesh Yadav.

There are indications that Akhilesh Yadav would soon meet Om Prakash Rajbhar and other members of Bhagidari Morcha floated by Om Prakash Rajbhar who has great influence in eastern UP. There is no doubt that Samajwadi Party gets majority of Muslim votes eversince Mulayam Singh Yadav as CM ordered firing on Karsewaks to protect Babri Mosque in 1990. But in order to shed pro-Muslim image of his party, Akhilesh Yadav has adopted soft Hindutva and was seen visiting temples in Bundelkhand and Ayodhya. Akhilesh Yadav also directed his party workers to spread the message in public about good work done in temple towns during his government.

Minority cell of Congress is, however, busy in making propaganda against Akhilesh Yadav and his party to show them to Muslims in bad light. But Akhilesh Yadav and Samajwadi Party have refrained from making any adverse comment. It may be mentioned that Akhilesh had entered into alliance with Rahul Gandhi and Congress in 2017 assembly polls but it miserably failed. Since Akhilesh Yadav and Priyanka have refrained from making any adverse comments against each other’s party, there some understanding for broader opposition unity against BJP. I not ruled out.

It would be worth mentioning here that Samajwadi Party took lead over other parties in collecting applications for assembly tickets. Senior party leaders are already engaged in scrutinizing the applications since the number of applicants for each seat is much higher this time.

At a time when BJP and Sangh Parivar are busy playing Hindutva card, former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is countering it with attacking Yogi government on the issue of governance and mishandling of pandemic which was also exposed by over a dozen BJP legislators, MPs including union ministers.

At the same time Samajwadi Party has hit campaign for 2022 assembly poll by highlighting good work of Samajwadi Party governments. As a part of the campaign Akhilesh Yadav will also start his famous cycle yatra which helped his party to capture power in 2012.asmbly elections. (IPA Service)