Cong attempts different kind of social engineering in UP

Congress has attempted a different kind of social engineering in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh in a bid to beat Mayawati and Mulayam Singh Yadav in their own game.

In a bid to widen its base in the caste-ridden politics of the state, where it has been out of power for last two decades, the party has reached out to marginalised sections among the same castes and communities, which these leaders broadly represent.

The party has attempted to dent the watertight caste compartments of UP politics by reaching out to sub castes within Yadavs and Rajputs as well.

The party is confident that it will win all three seats in Mainpuri, where Yadavs are in sizeable numbers. It has fielded a former Samajwadi Party candidate who had lost the last election by a margin or around two thousands votes.

It is also trying to work upon the wedge between Ghoshi and Kamaria, two powerful groups within Yadavs. Mulayam Singh Yadav belongs to Kamaria Yadavs, while Congress has this time fielded a large number of candidates from Ghoshi Yadavs. Urmila Yadav from Karnal is a Ghoshi Yadav.

Among the Rajputs, Raghavs are considered less politically represented in UP. Congress has focused on them.

The party has fielded Rashmi Rajput from Bhongaon Constituency in Western UP, where BJP stalwart Sakshi Maharaj is contesting and is confident of winning the seat.

As Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh move into Jatlands of the western parts of the state, the party is also hopeful that its alliance with Ajit Singh and the sub quota politics will fetch it rich dividends in this once BSP dominated area. 68 seats in Western UP went to polls today.

"Where there is a direct contest between BSP and Congress, we will win," says senior party leader Mohan Prakash, who believes that Samajwadi Party is not such a force here like in other parts of the state.