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SP trying to reach out to minorities
WITH THE local bodies election becoming quite challenging for the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) in urban sector, moves are afoot to intensify drive to reach out to trading and minority communities in the State. The traders and the minority community, it is expected, will play a crucial role in the election.
Tough contest ahead
WITH THE local bodies election becoming quite challenging for the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) in urban sector, moves are afoot to intensify drive to reach out to trading and minority communities in the State. The traders and the minority community, it is expected, will play a crucial role in the election.
The SP, which was so far considered as rural-based party, has been trying to demonstrate its strength in urban areas, too. SP general secretary Shahid Siddique said, “The party stands to gain in this effort.”
He said from one Mayor in Allahabad in the last election, the party was poised to win nearly half a dozen mayoral seats. Siddique said from rural areas, the party was set to enter urban sector. Even though the minority community was showing signs of crack in its traditional support to the SP, Siddique said there was still unwavering support of the community. “It has further consolidated because of Chief Minister Muayam Singh Yadav’s largesse to the community,” he said. He claimed that the Lucknow mayoral election would be a cakewalk for the party.
Meanwhile, SP candidate Dr Madhu Gupta, facing a multi-cornered contest, said there was no contest in the State Capital. She presumed that her victory was a forgone conclusion. Siddique said the opposition had failed to field a strong candidate in Lucknow.
Claiming that the overall law and order situation in UP was better than any other State, Siddique said the results of civic polls would not have a bearing on the forthcoming assembly election. He said expansion of the organisation in urban areas would further help the party in the assembly election. Dr Madhu Gupta said there was a good response of the people. Dr Gupta, who had performed well in last mayoral election because of Muslim support, has been making desperate efforts to stop a dent into the minority vote bank by the Congress, which has fielded an equally strong candidate Prof Manzoor Ahmad.
