The turnaround in Uttar Pradesh: SP-Congress Alliance Shines
The Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance had a remarkable turnaround in Uttar Pradesh, winning 43 out of the 80 seats. This success wasn’t just luck; it was due to several factors, including intelligent ticket distribution, outreach to marginalized groups (PDA – backward classes, Dalits, and minorities), and anger within the Rajput community.
Samajwadi Party’s Rise
Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party (SP) emerged as the largest party in Uttar Pradesh, securing 37 seats, a massive jump from the five seats it won in 2019. This significant win helped reduce the ruling BJP’s tally from 62 seats in 2019 to 33 seats this time. This shift prevented the BJP from securing a majority on its own.
The Congress also improved, winning six seats compared to just one in 2019. However, Mayawati’s BSP failed to win any seats.
Regional Gains
Eastern Uttar Pradesh: The SP made significant gains here, winning 18 seats. This region, represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saw the BJP’s seat count drop significantly.
Western Uttar Pradesh: The SP won 6 seats in this Jat-dominated area, with the INDIA bloc gaining seven seats overall. Despite aligning with Jayant Chaudhary’s Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), the BJP lost six seats here.
Bundelkhand: Traditionally dominated by the BJP, the SP won 3 regional seats.
Rajput Community’s Discontent
The BJP faced issues due to anger among the Rajput community, which traditionally supported the party. Rajputs, about 10-13% of the state population, felt sidelined in favor of Gurjars and Jats. This discontent affected the BJP’s performance.
In the first phase of voting, the BJP fielded only one Rajput candidate, Kunwar Sarvesh Singh, who unfortunately passed away shortly after the polls. This left other constituencies in the western region needing Rajput representation from the BJP.
Social Engineering and Ticket Distribution
The SP’s success can be attributed to its strategic ticket distribution. Akhilesh Yadav’s party focused on non-Yadav OBCs and Dalits, resulting in their best performance in a Lok Sabha election.
This time, the SP gave tickets to only five Yadavs and four Muslims, compared to ten Yadavs last time. They fielded 27 candidates from non-Yadav OBCs, which paid off as they won 25 seats in OBC-reserved constituencies and six in Muslim-dominated areas.
The SP’s decision to field Dalit candidates in Meerut and Faizabad (Ayodhya) was particularly successful. Notably, SP’s Awadhesh Prasad defeated BJP’s Lallu Singh in Faizabad, home to the newly inaugurated Ram temple.
Congress’ Performance
The Congress also saw improvements, winning four seats in OBC-dominated areas. This contributed to the alliance’s overall success.
BJP’s Setback
The BJP, which focused on upper-caste candidates, lost 23 seats in OBC-dominated constituencies and also suffered losses in Brahmin and Muslim-dominated areas. This decline highlights the party’s struggle to maintain its previous stronghold.
In summary, the SP-Congress alliance’s strategic moves and outreach to diverse voter groups significantly shifted Uttar Pradesh’s political landscape, reducing the BJP’s dominance and reshaping the state’s electoral map.