UP polls 2017: What next for Samajwadi Party, voters wonder in twin bastions of Etawah and Mainpuri

At Barthana in Etawah, Akhilesh says, “I know the matter is different in Etawah. Here the Samajwadis’ fight is against the Samajwadis themselves.” “It was disappointing to hear that the Mukhyamantri lacks faith in Etawah but has it in Mainpuri,” says Balwant Shakya of Bharthana, who says he heard the speech on television. He says he might have voted for the SP but, after that speech, he has decided to go with the BJP. Mainpuri has three assembly seats, Etawah three.The two districts vote Sunday.

Mainpuri and Etawah are part of central UP, which has the largest presence of OBCs in the state. There is also a sizeable Dalit population, and certain pockets of upper-caste dominance. Dominant among the backward classes are Yadavs, followed by Lodhis and Shakyas. In 2012, the Samajwadi Party has won 55 of the 69 seats that are this time voting in the third phase. In the twin bastions, the BJP has been trying to ensure the family feud remains in the public spotlight. It has created slogans such as “Jo beta baap ka na hua, wo tumhara kya hoga”, using these to address OBCs. The BSP too has been raking up the SP family feud, describing it as “Mahabharata” and criticising Akhilesh for alleged “injustice” to Shivpal and Mulayam. Mayawati had inducted key Shivpal aides such as Narad Rai and Ambika Chowdhry.

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“The family feud is definitely at play,” says Sanjay Singh Shakya of Mainpuri Sadar. “The resentment among a section of Yadavs is not only about the perceived insult to Mulayam, but also about Akhilesh denying tickets to big leaders such as Raghuraj Shakya of Etawah, and Pramod Gupta of Bidhuna. Those who missed out will obviously take revenge.” Mulayam has chosen to campaign only for Shivpal in this belt, while Akhilesh covered six of the seven seats Thursday, excluding only Shivpal’s Jaswantnagar. Even there, though, Akhilesh has supporters. “I will vote for Akhilesh Yadav,” says Kuwari, who is in her 50s. She laughs at the reminder that Akhilesh is not the candidate. “Are, woi to chunav lad rahe.”

“Dadi,” her grandson says, “it’s Shivpal who is contesting. Kuwari rebukes him with a pat on the head: “Pagla ho gaye ho kya. Shivpal to Mulayam k bhai hain. Chunav to Akhilesh lad rahe hain.” At Bhogaon, Bhajan Singh Rajpute sees no future for the SP and will vote for the BJP instead. “Don’t forget, the Congress got decimated after ruling the country for decades. These days, no party can take anything for granted,” he says.