Elections 2024: Uttar Pradesh is the largest state in the Lok Sabha elections with the maximum number of 80 Lok Sabha seats. The politics happening in UP has a big role in the politics of the country. In such a situation, UP has the biggest contribution in deciding whose government will be formed at the Centre.
UP is also the most populous state of India. More than 24 crore people live here, which is about 18 percent of the total population of the country. This means that the voters of UP can influence the political scenario of the country to a great extent.
Let us know in this special story, what is the stand of which party in UP from the Lok Sabha elections, what is their status, what are the factors, which leaders can be big players in the election game, what are the compulsions of which party. And what will be the strategy?
First know how many political parties are there in UP
Recently, 26 opposition parties had formed INDIA alliance, which will face the NDA government in the 2024 elections. However, some of these parties have now changed sides. At present, 4 major national parties and 8 state-level parties are preparing to contest elections in UP.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) includes BJP, Apna Dal (Sonelal), Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, Rashtriya Lok Dal and NISHAD Party. The Indian alliance includes Samajwadi Party, Mahan Dal, Janwadi Party (Socialist), Apna Dal (Kameravadi) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). However, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Owaisi’s AIMIM will contest the elections alone.
Which party’s stance?
BJP is fully prepared to return to power in 2024. The party will contest elections on the issues of development, nationalism and Hindutva. The party claims that it has brought development in UP and strengthened national security. The party is claiming to win all 80 seats of UP.
SP is the main opposition party and is trying its best to defeat BJP. SP will contest elections on the issues of social justice, interests of farmers and welfare of the poor. The party claims that BJP has ignored the poor and farmers.
Mayawati’s BSP could not perform well in the 2022 assembly elections. This time the party will try to regain its lost ground in the elections. BSP will contest elections on the issues of interest of Dalits and backward classes.
Congress will try to perform better in 2024. The party is focusing on youth and women. The party will contest elections on the issues of development, employment and inflation.
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) will change sides and contest elections in alliance with BJP before the 2024 elections. RLD will contest elections on the issues of farmers’ interests and welfare of the poor.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will also try to increase its influence in UP. AAP will contest elections on the issues of corruption, education and health. The party claims that BJP is a corrupt party and has ignored issues like education, health.
Position of parties in UP Lok Sabha elections
BJP is the strongest contender in Uttar Pradesh. After coming to power in the 2022 assembly elections by winning 312 seats, the BJP will try to repeat its victory in 2024. BJP has a strong organization in UP. The party has a large network of workers at the grassroots level. There are many popular leaders in UP, including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Home Minister Amit Shah and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya. However, SP and BSP can challenge BJP.
It stood second in the 2022 assembly elections by winning 111 seats. There is a strong support base and dedicated workers. SP has a strong support base in Uttar Pradesh, especially among Yadavs, Muslims and some backward classes. Akhilesh Yadav is a young and popular leader who can attract young voters. However, internal discord in SP can also weaken it.
The Congress party could not perform well in the 2022 assembly elections and was able to win only 2 seats. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is leading the Congress in UP. His popularity and influence can affect the party’s performance to a great extent. Alliance with SP can be beneficial for Congress. Congress is running a special campaign to attract youth and women.
BSP’s organization appeared weak in the 2022 assembly elections. Many leaders had left the party. Mayawati is the supreme leader of the party. The main base of BSP has been Dalit vote, but the support of other castes is decreasing. BSP appears weak on the issue of development. The party does not have any strong issue for the 2024 elections.
Apna Dal (Sonelal) is a regional political party in Uttar Pradesh which has influence among the Kurmi community. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Apna Dal (Sonelal) was part of the NDA alliance and won 2 seats. The party’s national president Anupriya Patel is a popular leader. Can increase the party’s chances of victory in the elections.
Which factors in elections do the dominant
caste play an important role in elections in Uttar Pradesh? All parties will contest elections keeping caste equations in mind. Kurmi, Yadav, Jat, Brahmin, Dalit and Muslim communities have a lot of influence on the results. Development will also be an important issue. All parties will present their claims for development. Will claim development to attract voters.
Selection of candidates is also an important factor in Uttar Pradesh, many times they bring people to their side. The party leader is an important factor. A famous leader is successful in attracting more and more voters.
Apart from this, all the parties will claim to improve law and order in the state. Unemployment, inflation, poverty, farmer issues and social problems are also a factor in elections.
Which new party is likely to emerge in UP?
Swami Prasad Maurya, angry with Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh, has resigned from the post of National General Secretary of Samajwadi Party. He has announced the formation of his new political party. The party has been named Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party. The flag of the party has been made by mixing blue, red and green colors.
While announcing his resignation, Swami Prasad Maurya said, ‘There is a lot of difference between the words and actions of Akhilesh Yadav. There are differences between us but not differences of opinion. The reason for separation from SP is ideological differences. I have never deviated from the ideology. Netaji Khanti was a socialist leader. We have to follow the path shown by Kanshi Ram.
Who benefits and who suffers loss from Swami Prasad’s resignation?
Swami Prasad Maurya’s entire politics is based on anti-Hindu. He has often been in the headlines because of his anti-Hindu statements. Gave controversial statements from Ramcharitmanas to Hindu Gods and Goddesses. With this he probably tries to tap Buddhist and Muslim vote banks.
The biggest loss due to Swamy’s resignation will be to SP’s support base. SP’s vote bank may become weak. Apart from this, the vote bank of BSP may also decrease. There may be division of votes, which will make it difficult to win the election. At the same time, BJP can benefit from the politics of polarization.
Swami Prasad started his political career from Lok Dal. After this he joined Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party and stayed here for about 20 years. Joining hands with Bharatiya Janata Party in the year 2020. He left BJP and joined Samajwadi Party in 2022. Now he has also left SP. Has formed his own political party RSSP.
Big leaders of the election game
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is a popular face of BJP. Their Hindutva vote bank is strong. Second, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself belongs to the OBC community and has a support base among people of every community. Apart from these, Amit Shah , Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani are also big faces of BJP. RLD President Jayant Chaudhary, who is in alliance with BJP, is a big leader of Jat voters.
Akhilesh Yadav from SP can attract youth and Muslim vote bank. Shivpal Yadav may try to unite the ‘Yadav’ community. BSP President Mayawati is a big leader of Dalits.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Congress is a big leader who raises her voice in favor of women and youth. Rahul Gandhi also has a good influence among the youth.