Searching for issues and allies : UP polity

Assembly elections may be 15 months away but political parties in Uttar Pradesh are already stepping up their search for issues and platforms to fight the poll battle.This includes the ruling BJP. The regular issue of the Hindutva forces, the construction of a magnificent Ram temple at Ayodhya, is no longer a live potent issue, with the Supreme Court clearing the way for its building. At least, it will not have the same leverage with the voters. In its absence, the Yogi government has now started talking about the so-called love Jehad. The Chief Minister has said that his government will soon come forward with legislation to curb alleged forced inter faith marriages.
One can also expect increased rhetoric from the ruling BJP about the threat from across the borders and the measures taken by the Narendra Modi government to fight the menace.Another striking feature of the emerging political scenario in Uttar Pradesh is the virtual absence of any effort by the regional opposition parties to corner the Yogi government for its failings. The latest example of this came during the uproar over the Hathras rape and murder incident. The two main regional political parties of the state, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party, were  not prominent among those fighting for justice for the Dalit woman victim.
It was left to the Congress to mount a challenge to the Yogi Adityanath government on the issue.The BSP especially appears to be not clear about its role in the emerging political scenario in the state. Its confusion came  to light at the time of the Rajya Sabha elections episode. It is clear that the party is no longer interested in carrying forward the alliance it had forged with the Samajwadi Party for last year’s Lok Sabha elections. So much so that BSP chief Mayawati openly declared that her party will not shy away from supporting the BJP to defeat the challenge from the Samajwadi Party in the ensuing legislative council elections.
The development comes after many episodes in the recent past of the BSP toeing the government line on various issues.The Samajwadi Party also appears to be uncertain about the role it should play in the emerging scenario. As the largest opposition party in Uttar Pradesh, it has failed to mount an aggressive challenge to the Yogi government.
With the main regional opposition parties failing to fight the ruling dispensation effectively, the Congress, though it is a much smaller entity, has been trying to fill the gap and mount a challenge to the BJP led government in Uttar Pradesh.The ruling BJP as well as the opposition parties are set to sharpen their strategies in the coming months to win the Uttar Pradesh people’s support. More clarity may emerge nearer to the Assembly elections due in early 2022.

(Political Analyst)