The just concluded three-day agitation of the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh has done more good to the party than harm to the Mayawati government.
The Samajwadi Party has got a much-needed image makeover with this agitation and has also won several new admirers.
The Samajwadis, earlier known for their rowdiness and violent ways, ensured that their agitation remains completely peaceful. The Samajwadis, this time, did not damage a single property or vehicle and neither did they retaliate against police violence.
“This time, we wanted to demolish the perception that the Samajwadi party resorts to violence at the slightest provocation. We had asked our party workers to show their tolerance level this time and we are glad that they accepted the challenge. Police officials trampled upon and kicked around our party workers with boots — newspaper photos prove this — but no one retaliated,” says Shivpal Singh Yadav, Leader of the Opposition, who himself suffered head injuries during a lathi-charge.
The Samajwadi Party leadership admits that this makeover of the party’s image will bring in support from the middle class voters who had earlier shied away due to the party’s image.
“The image just got built up over the years because our main support base is the youth who remain charged with energy sometimes and allow excitement to rule over sanity,” explains a former youth leader of the party.