Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Thursday surged ahead of its rivals by declaring names of its official candidates for 100 of the 403 Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, giving over one-third seats to Muslims.
Muslims account for nearly 20 percent of the state’s electorate and perhaps keeping this in mind, members of the community have been given tickets in 36 of the 100 seats spread over 20 districts.
The party has already shortlisted names of candidates for all the 403 seats, BSP supremo Mayawati told a recent press conference.
The BSP chief had said that she had finalised the names of candidates long ago and there will be no change in it.
"List of candidates for other seats will be released soon," BSP said in a release.
The Break-Up
Giving caste-wise details of the shortlisted candidates, she had said that 87 tickets will be given to Dalits, 97 to Muslims and 106 to OBCs.
Of the 113 tickets earmarked for upper castes, Brahmins will get 66, Kshatriyas 36, and Kayasthas, Vaishyas and Punjabis 11, she had said.
Alleging that minorities were facing a bias under the Modi government, Mayawati had cautioned Muslims that voting for Samajwadi Party or Congress will only help BJP and sought their support "to stop" the saffron party.
Muslims – A Traditional Vote Bank
Muslims should not waste their votes by backing SP or Congress, Mayawati has said. as there is infighting in SP and Congress lacks a voter base.
Muslims are considered the traditional vote bank of the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP). But concern over the SP family feud has been voiced by several top clerics, including Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, and Maulana Salman Nadvi of the Lucknow-based Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulema.
Divided Muslim votes translate into gains for the BJP, while a consolidation will change the poll arithmetic as minorities play a crucial role in at least 125 of 403 constituencies.
Mayawati had also accused Opposition parties of levelling baseless charge against BSP, calling is a casteist party so that other castes do not vote for it.
"During all the four governments, BSP has worked in the interest of all castes besides the Dalits," she said. She also added that her party has also demanded a quota on economic basis for the upper castes, both in and outside Parliament.
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