JOIN USMajor political players are all out to woo the numerically powerful ‘backward communities’ to win the electoral race in Uttar Pradesh.
The backward communities, which constitute around 55% of the total electorate in the state, play a crucial role in influencing the outcome of the poll results in more than 200 Assembly seats.
The SP, BSP, BJP and Congress are trying to garner the support of these communities by inducting or promoting regional leaders from different castes within the backward communities.
A few days prior to the announcement of the election dates, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav approved a proposal to include 17 backward castes into the Scheduled Caste (SC) category. The proposal was sent to the Centre for its approval.
Akhilesh appointed Naresh Chand Uttam – a Kurmi – as the SP state unit president in a bid to make inroads into the votes of the community.
BSP chief Mayawati has fielded as many as 106 candidates hailing from different backward castes. The BJP, banking heavily on the support of the non-Yadav backward caste votes, has been promoting leaders from these castes.
Not to be left behind, the Congress has also sought to woo the community. It made actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar, who hails from a backward community, its state unit president.