Uttar Pradesh assembly elections 2017: The assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh are just about six months to go and the political circumstances are all heated in the state. One question in everyone’s mouth now which party is going to form a government and who will be the next CM of the State.
There are four major parties contesting the polls that are Bhartiya Janta Party, Bahujan Samaj party, Samajwadi Party, and Congress. When it comes to the best CM candidate, ruling Samajwadi party and Bahujan Samaj Party are the two key contenders in Uttar Pradesh. The experts are assuming that this time BJP will emerge as the second strongest party in the Uttar Pradesh after BSP.
While talking about BJP, it is moving ahead with a lot of confidence after forming government at the Center getting 71 seats out of 80 from Uttar Pradesh in Lok Sabha elections 2014.
Also read: https://northbridgetimes.com/uttar-pradesh-election-opinion-poll-2017/21032
In the assembly polls 2012 when Samajwadi party came into the power, the folks of Uttar Pradesh are extremely disappointed with the party’s performance five years down the line. Violation of law and order and stunted progress of development are the two key reason of the ruling party going out of favor.
Although Akhilesh Yadav who is sitting chief Minister has a few power in the government but still he is the first choice as CM of the state of the people. Statement of most people is saying that Akhilesh is a great man but in the wrong party where people like Shivpal Yadav, Amar Singh, and Azam Khan hold powers.
Uttar Pradesh assembly elections 2017: Bahujan Samaj Party
Mayawati is a strong contender in the state but the entry of BJP and its playing up of the development card has queered the pitch. Several Key MLAs has left the party’s accusing Mayawati selling tickets but not awarding them on the basis of merit. But, there is no affect on a range of Mayawati’s Dalit vote bank. Moreover, BSP has an advantage over SP and BJP because it has never had to face communal riots during its government.
BSP’s plan to return to power
- In May’16, BSP Chief Mayawati announced that her party would support Congress and not BJP in the upcoming UP elections.
- The party created religion/caste-based groups to reach out to people and made it clear to have the support of Muslims and Dalits.
- Hoping to make a comeback in the state, BSP announced support to Congress significantly because of the Muslim vote bank of the Congress.
Uttar Pradesh assembly elections 2017: Congress (Sheila Dikshit)
The congress knows very well that it has not serious contenders for UP elections. Therefore, congress wants to promote itself not to win the elections. The reason behind Congress of contesting elections is to prevent BJP from coming to power in the state. If we talk about experts, they predict for a hung assembly.
Congress’ women against other tough candidates
- With polls only 6months away, Congress seemed to be in a dilemma whether to look for alliances or project a candidate for the chief minister post.
- However, the party planned a strategy to counterattack biggies from other parties in the elections.
- Congress decided to place women against strong candidates from other parties; Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was expected to take the charge in UP.
Why BJP is not disclosing the name of its CM candidate?
BJP is claiming to expect a positive result after sweeping the Lok Sabha elections in 2014. According to the BJP leaders, the party believes in development instead of other parties which contest elections on Caste and food, clothing and shelter. Although there is no idea which party will get a majority, however, BJP has chances to form a coalition with either SP or BSP. Well, there are two reasons why BJP is not declaring the CM candidate one is: They don’t have a suitable candidate yet and second reason could be that BJP doesn’t have caste-based hold in the state.
BJP’s strategy for Uttar Pradesh assembly elections 2017
- BJP planned to encourage people from all backgrounds, castes, and religions; district heads from backward sections were appointed to please backward vote bank.
- Shiv Pratap Shukla replaced Abbas Naqvi to please forward sections and strike a balance between forward and backward vote banks.
- Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh’s massive rallies to address farmers and other sections, and Brahm Chetna Yatra to target Buddhists were flagged off.
Results of Opinion Polls on UP CM Candidates
| CM Candidate | India TV-CVoter Survey (Aug,16) |
CM Candidate | India Today-Axis Opinion Poll (Oct,16) |
| Akhilesh Yadav | 32.8% | Akhilesh Yadav | 27% |
| Mayawati | 28.2% | Mayawati | 31% |
| Sheila Dikshit | 5.1% | Rajnath Singh | 17% |
| Any BJP Leader | 26.0% | Sheila Dikshit | 1% |
| Others | 7.9% | Priyanka Gandhi | 2% |
