Ahead of the tough electoral battle in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party appears to have done a volte face and has now become a supporter of team Anna in a clear departure from its earlier stand when the party opposed some of the key demands of Mr Anna Hazare.
The party, along with the Left leaders, at the same time also strongly argued for reservation for dalits, OBCs, minorities and women in the search panel and Lokpal.
The Samajwadi Party at the time of the formation of the joint drafting committee on Lokpal, which included six members of the civil society, used to call itself “uncivil society” and opposed inclusion of the Prime Minister within the ambit of the Lokpal.
“We support your main demands and want to say that we will pressurise the government to pass a strong and effective Lokpal Bill. Our party will not cause any obstacle in the passage of the Lokpal Bill,” said the SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav.
To loud cheers of the crowd, Mr Sharad Yadav slammed the standing committee report on the Lokpal Bill, calling it a “isse bada vishwasghat nahi hai (no bigger betrayal than this)”. “I had sent an email to Mr Hazare to say that the whole country is with you,” said Mr Sharad Yadav, while adding that the party member in the standing committee gave a dissent note and claimed that his party was in agreement with all demands of team Anna.
The Samajwadi Party leader also expressed apprehension that if reservation in the search panel and Lokpal was not provided to dalits, OBCs, women and minorities people from these sections may not survive in politics.
However, Mr Yadav advised team Anna that they should not abuse all politicians and claimed that he had seen even corrupt roaming around with Anna caps in Etawah district in Uttar Pradesh. “Most of the MPs agree with your demands. You should not be stubborn, that whatever you say will be accepted. We can all work to further strengthen the legislation,” added Mr Yadav.
The change in the stand of the Samajwadi Party appears to have come apparently due to the fact that the youth in Uttar Pradesh could play a decisive role in next year’s Assembly elections and the party could benefit electorally by siding with Team Anna.