Regarding the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections 2027, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has made a significant change in its electoral strategy. Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has planned separate manifestos and promises to appeal to the youth, women, farmers, teachers, and salaried classes.
Lucknow: The electoral whistle is yet to blow in the grand competition for power, but political parties have already entered the field. The cycle (SP's symbol) has begun to move on the track of its promises towards victory. Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is accelerating the pace of his strategy, ensuring every 'pedal' of promises.
Preparations have also begun to appeal to major sections like youth, women, farmers, teachers, and salaried professionals, as well as various castes, big and small, through promises related to their identity and the respect for their great personalities.
New Series of Promises and Focus on Cities
The SP has now adopted a strategy of presenting separate manifestos for cities. Major cities like Agra, Mathura, Noida, and Ghaziabad have been directly included in its agenda. The party believes this will help gain a voting advantage in the respective districts. The SP has started to solidify its hold on women voters by announcing the 'Stree Samman-Samriddhi Yojana' (Women's Dignity-Prosperity Scheme). Women's votes have been decisive in previous elections in states like Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, and the SP is already working to strengthen support from this demographic.
To attract the youth and farmer segments, promises are being made on issues such as education, employment, and agriculture. The party has also announced plans to end outsourcing and provide permanent jobs with full reservations, reduce fertilizer crises, and solve problems like school closures.
Caste Equations Now in SP's Strategy
Caste equations and the politics of symbols are now playing a crucial role in the SP's strategy. The party has promised to install statues of Maharaja Suheldev, Nishadraj, Bhagwan Vishwakarma, and Maharana Pratap on the Gomti River Front. Additionally, the provision of new boats to boatmen has also been announced. The declaration of constructing a memorial for former MP Shivdayal Chaurasia is also a step in this direction. This strategy is considered important for appealing to smaller parties and local groups. The party's intention is to prevent the BJP from garnering support among Nishad, Rajbhar, Kurmi, and other castes.
In the last Lok Sabha elections, the votes of the Backward, Dalit, and Minority (PDA) communities proved crucial for the SP. However, for the 2027 elections, the SP has changed its strategy of solely relying on PDA votes. The party has now devised a comprehensive electoral plan, keeping an eye on every segment and city. Akhilesh Yadav has instructed party workers and office bearers to instill confidence and hope in the public through distinct manifestos and promises.
Challenging BJP's Strategy
The SP's next objective is also to challenge the BJP's strategy. In the last Lok Sabha elections, the BJP gained an advantage with slogans highlighting the 'threat to the constitution-reservation' and PDA votes. This time, the SP is resorting to direct promises and announcements to counter that very strategy. The SP believes that if they present clear and reliable promises for every class and region, their acceptance among the public can increase. Simultaneously, the impact of negative strategies by opposing parties can be reduced.
