LUCKNOW: After its success in Kairana
Lok Sabha and Noorpur assembly bypolls, the Opposition unity in
Uttar Pradesh will face the test again at the panchayat byelections scheduled on August 17.
Political circles in UP are abuzz about BSP and SP deciding to support a common candidate against the one backed by BJP. A senior BSP functionary said that a formal decision on the two parties coming together for this coming bypolls is likely to be taken soon.
Byelections are due for 170 gram pradhans, 2,978 of gram sabha members, 198 kshetra panchayat, and 11 of zila panchayat members. Rural local body elections are not contested on party symbols and hence parties lend their support to contesting candidates. Experts said that the performance of the candidates, supported by various political parties in rural areas, could be a pointer to what lay in store in Lok Sabha elections due next year. "Both SP and BSP have a significant rural base. Their support to a common candidate may, therefore, be a big challenge to the BJP-supported candidate," said a political expert.
BJP, on the other hand, has been making all-out efforts to make inroads into rural areas through implementation of various central government schemes, including Ujjwala (provisioning free gas connection), Saubhagya (free electricity connections) and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
BJP's organisational machinery has been working overtime through the 'Gram Chaupal' scheme wherein the complaints of the rural populace are being addressed by ministers and senior party functionaries.
After being decimated by BJP in 2014 Lok Sabha and 2017 UP assembly elections, SP and BSP had got a boost during urban local body polls last year. The two then joined hands to defeat BJP in
Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha bypolls and then roped in RLD to win Kairana Lok Sabha and Noorpur assembly seats the next round of byelections.
Rural local body elections are not contested on party symbols and hence parties lend their support to contesting candidates
