The excessive pampering of Muslims and Brahmins by the Samajwadi Party on the eve of Lok Sabha elections has begun annoying other caste groups, particularly Yadavs.
The party’s concentration on Muslims and Brahmins — at the cost of neglecting Yadavs — could upset the Samajwadi calculation for the next general elections.
“The manner in which the party leadership is bending backwards to please Muslims has become a major upsetting factor for the Yadavs. The party rode to power on the strength of all caste groups but now it seems that only Muslims and Brahmins matter to the leadership. There is surging resentment among Yadavs and if the party leaders do not address this, there could be a major shock for them in the Lok Sabha polls,” said a senior Yadav legislator on Monday. The party in its eagerness to woo Muslims has somehow forgotten its traditional base vote bank — the OBCs in general and Yadavs, in particular — that has remained firmly loyal to the Samajwadi Party since the past two decades.
Apparently, Yadavs are upset at the manner in which the Samajwadi leadership is going all out to woo Muslims which includes withdrawing terror cases against Muslim youth, special scholarships for Muslim girls, boundaries for Muslim graveyards and providing coaching facilities for Muslim youth.
“Besides, the government gave `50 lakhs to the kin of the slain DSP Zia-ul-Haq merely because he was a Muslim. Other police officials killed on duty did not get preferential treatment. Now in the case of the death of a terror accused, the government has allowed FIR against 42 senior cops without even investigating the charges. If this is not going overboard in Muslim appeasement, then what is it?” asked the legislator.
Interestingly, four Samajwadi leaders who had been named as party candidates for the Lok Sabha elections have bowed out of the fray, citing personal reasons.