2024 Lok Sabha Elections: SP Prepares to Challenge BJP, Shifts Focus to Critical Issues Beyond Caste Politics

For the upcoming general elections, the Samajwadi Party (SP) is gearing up to confront the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Akhilesh Yadav, the national president of the SP, seems to have recognised the need to go beyond caste politics and address critical concerns such as law and order, inflation, health, and unemployment. This strategy aims to challenge the dominant "Hindutva" Party in the communally charged state of UP.

Campaign Kicked off

UP's principal opposition party, the SP, launched its campaign for the 2024 general election in the Lakhimpur district on June 5, commencing with a training camp for party functionaries and workers. Akhilesh Yadav himself briefed the party about its agenda for the upcoming elections.

Despite suffering four consecutive defeats, the SP remains the primary opposition party in the politically significant state of UP, which contributes 80 members to Parliament. Akhilesh Yadav's party currently holds 111 lawmakers in an Assembly of 403 seats.

The upcoming elections are crucial for the SP for two reasons: this is the first major election after the demise of the SP's founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, "Neta Ji," and it will be a litmus test for Akhilesh Yadav, the party's president. The SP has been persistently losing electoral battles to the BJP since 2014, and now questions are rising about its existence.

The upcoming elections are crucial for the SP for two reasons: this is the first major election after the demise of the SP's founder, Mulayam Singh Yadav, also known as "Netaji," and it will serve as a litmus test for Akhilesh Yadav, the party's president. The SP has consistently been losing electoral battles to the BJP since 2014, and concerns about its survival have been raised.

Caste Politics 

Seemingly, the party is making efforts to reach every section of society this time. The SP's agenda extends beyond caste politics as they aim to challenge the ruling party. However, this doesn't imply that the Mandal party will completely abandon caste politics, which forms the foundation of its political strategy. In order to counter the BJP's dominant Hindutva movement, the SP will intensify its demand for a "caste census" in the days ahead.

Former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav also reiterated the SP's call for a caste census in the country, emphasizing that social justice cannot be achieved without it. "The caste census will ensure social justice and enhance our social fabric and democracy," stated Akhilesh. He further added that the caste census will enhance people's confidence in democracy.

Law and Order

At the same time, Akhilesh has criticised the BJP government for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. He also seeks to establish the narrative that there are differences between Narendra Modi's central government and Yogi Adityanath's UP government. "Are the engines of UP and Delhi colliding?" he questioned, referring to the saffron party's "double-engine government" slogan. A fresh debate over law and order in UP has been sparked since February when four individuals were killed in the presence of the police.

Mission Rural

In an effort to strengthen the party's presence in rural areas, the SP will highlight the agrarian crisis, the issue of stray animals, and the price of sugarcane. The SP has brought up the matter of sugarcane prices, as the UP government has maintained the state-advised price for sugarcane unchanged for the past four years, further exacerbating the difficulties faced by farmers due to inflation. It is important to note that farmers assert that UP is one of India's largest sugar-producing states, with approximately 4.5 million farmers directly involved in cultivating the crop.

Strengthening the Party

The SP will prioritise strengthening its organizational structure to counter the BJP, which has held power in the state since 2017. Akhilesh's party has also devised plans to reinforce the party's structures at the booth and sector levels, taking inspiration from the BJP's approach. However, political analysts argue that Akhilesh has neglected the Muslim community, which has remained loyal to the SP since its establishment in 1992.

Muslims’ Resentment

Political analysts indicate that there is a growing sense of disillusionment among Muslims towards the SP, as observed in the recently concluded urban local polls. In several places, such as Muradabaad, where Muslim voters hold significant influence, Congress emerged as the preferred choice for the minority community. This emerging trend is alarming and sends the message that Akhilesh should not take the Muslim voters, who constitute nearly 19%-20% of the state's population, for granted.

According to political commentator Syed Kamran, one cannot remain neutral when the electoral landscape has undergone such a drastic change. He emphasised that in such a sharply polarised contest, one must clearly state their position or present a completely alternative narrative and actively promote it to sway public opinion.

Kamran mentioned that Akhilesh Yadav's attempt to distance himself from Azam Khan, the prominent Muslim political figure in the state, while being vocal about various other issues, is proving to be costly. The SP president needs to understand that his party's image has been firmly established as that of the Muslim-Yadav Party. By trying to shed this label, he risks alienating the Muslim community as well.

Dalits Votes

It appears that Akhilesh is targeting Dalit votes, which are currently divided between the BJP and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). This vote split weakens both the BSP and the Bahujan Movement. Akhilesh has made efforts to engage with Dalits by addressing their revered figures, such as B R Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram. There is a widely held belief that Akhilesh aims to unite Dalits under the banner of his party to create a formidable force against the BJP.

‘Democracy in Danger’

Akhilesh Yadav is also attempting to highlight the growing concern among people about the erosion of democracy in the future. He expresses apprehension that there may come a time when citizens will be deprived of their right to vote. "They might have learned from Russia to perpetuate their rule in the country," he has cautioned. He is urging his party workers to engage with the public and address various issues, such as soaring inflation. Additionally, he is emphasising the need to convey to the people that the BJP is operating outside the confines of the Constitution and is acting against the law.

Bipolar Election?

While discussing the SP's new strategy, senior political commentator Mudit Mathur suggested that Congress aims to transform future general elections into a bipolar contest. He further explained that in such a political scenario, the significance of caste-based and regional parties would diminish. “Alongside the SP's promises for farmers, youths, and other segments of society, Akhilesh should clarify his stance on matters concerning Muslims. Failing to do so may make it challenging for Akhilesh to sustain his political career if the Muslim community leans towards Congress,” he opined.

When approached for comments regarding the SP's future strategy and Akhilesh's silence on Muslim issues, SP spokesperson Ameeq dismissed the “frivolous narrative propagated by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Congress”, which suggests that the SP is moving towards Hindutva. Ameeq asserted that while the SP remains dedicated to its agenda of social justice, the party will also focus on addressing other issues affecting the general public. This broader approach aims to mobilise people from all walks of life against the BJP's anti-people policies.