Election manifestos have become the last priority of major political parties, which have launched their campaign for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls before coming out with a manifesto.
While the two national parties — the Congress and the BJP — are giving final touches to their manifesto, regional parties like the BSP and the Samajwadi Party have already started adding colour to the campaign.
Though the Congress is building up the campaign on the twin issues of corruption and governance, the BJP is relying on the Most Backward Castes (MBCs), Brahmins and Thakurs.
If the Election Commission’s order to cover the statues of elephants, the BSP’s election symbol, and chief minister Mayawati erected on government funds could consolidate the BSP’s political constituency, the SP is working hard to consolidate Muslim-Yadavs. These issues and the concern may reflect in their manifestos when they release them.
UP was virtually ruled by Ms Mayawati (four-time CM) and Mr Mulayam Sigh Yadav and Mr Kalyan Singh (three-time CM each) since 1989. Mr Rajnath Singh and Ram Prakash Gupta of the BJP ruled the state for some time.
The people of UP have seen performance of these parties in last 22 years. The state has also seen one-party rule and coalition governments in these years.
A senior MP on Friday said “in UP caste is a reality”, suggesting that development has always been a last priority there.
Among the smaller parties, the JD(U), LJP and the Trinamul Congress will also be contesting the UP polls.
But is unclear when will they come out with election manifestos.
The JD(U) and the Ram Vilas Paswan-led LJP have decided to contest all 403 seats in the state.
The LJP on Friday even named 53 candidates in its third list, taking the number of candidates announced so far to 341.