SP brainstorms but without any result

Even party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav gave special focus to the failure to turn the political situation in the state in SP favour despite having issues like police atrocities,registration of FIR against Azam Khan on charge of sedition and police action against party MLAs,Raja Bhaiyya and Vijay Mishra.

The party’s dilemma over deciding its main political enemy was reflected in simultaneous attacks against both Congress and the ruling BSP. Since the party is in race with the Congress for bagging Muslim votes,SP leaders find it difficult to spare the Congress-led UPA government and dedicate their energies to targetting the BSP.

The importance Mulayam granted to Azam Khan at the conference was a pointer to its desperation to get rid of the “Kalyan factor” which badly damaged its prospects in the Lok Sabha elections. Khan reminded voters about Mulayam’s apology for joining hands with the BJP’s erstwhile Hindu mascot.

The Congress gameplan to bag Muslim votes appeared to haunt the SP leadership.

Although the party questioned the credentials of Congress for its Pro-Muslim stand,it could not declare any programme for Muslim dominated areas.

“The party should have made an announcement about holding regular meetings to make its stand clear on issues related to Muslims,” said a legislator.

As the party is ready with its list of candidates,most leaders were reluctant to come on record with their views.

“The party wants us to remain visible on streets over different issues,” said another senior SP leader. “So they keep talking about agitations against the state government. It may backfire as the party lacks disciplined workers who can show patience during agitations,” said another leader.

What was surprising was the party’s silence on the emergence of small political outfits in eastern UP which threatened Mulayam’s image as sole leader of OBCs and Muslims.

While the Peace Party continues to expand its base among Muslims,the Bhartiya Samaj Party and Janwadi Party have made inroads among Rajbhar and Chauhan castes.

It was only Azam Khan who indirectly referred to the danger the Peace Party posed. Without naming the party,Khan made an appeal to Muslims to look at national issues instead of the local.

The SP decision to give special importance to Nishad leaders ¿ Vishwambhar Nishad and Upendra Nishad ¿ however,hinted at a strategy to compensate the possible loss of its traditional votes to small political outfits. Nishad voters have good presence in various Assembly seats of Eastern UP.

“Nishad voters are unhappy with the BSP following the death of former minister Jamuna Prasad Nishad in a road accident. It was the same Nishad who was sent to jail in the murder case of police constable,” said a party leader.

The party’s problems to create issues as per its political needs got special reference in the speeches of Mulayam.

He cited the failure of the Allahabad unit to convert the police action against legislator Vijay Mishra into a potential issue. He also referred to the police action against Kunda MLA Raja Bhaiyya to attack the state government in order to avoid problem in absence of Thakur face in his party after Amar’s departure.

Most of the party leaders were not convinced with Mulayam’s plea to launch agitation in support of MLAs like Raja Bhaiyya and Vijay Mishra.

“How one can mobilise workers to hit the street to protest against police action against a controversial politician?” said a leader. The same party promises to deny tickets to candidates with criminal background. “So,this is a contradiction,” he remarked.