The party feels it has weakened its base in the rural parts of the state
Samajwadi strategists feel that if the party continues to concentrate on the urban areas, its support base may erode in the rural interiors and this could prove disastrous in the next Assembly elections, due in 2017. (Photo: PTI/File)
Lucknow: In a fresh attempt to consolidate its base in the rural areas, the Samajwadi Party has decided to shift its focus back to villages.
The party feels that its attempts to present a modern and urban face after the 2012 Assembly elections, has weakened its base in the rural parts of the state and it was this that led to its debacle in the Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP, on the other hand, was essentially an urban-based party but is now rapidly making inroads in rural India. Samajwadi strategists feel that if the party continues to concentrate on the urban areas, its support base may erode in the rural interiors and this could prove disastrous in the next Assembly elections, due in 2017.
Uttar Pradesh will also be facing panchayat elections next year and the Samajwadi Party is keen to strengthen its rural base in order to win these elections. Moreover, the Samajwadi Party enjoys a strong support base among backward castes and this is mostly concentrated in the rural areas.
“Casteism is strongly rooted in the rural parts of the state whereas urban voters tend to get swayed by publicity and social media. Since we are basically a pro-OBC party, we have to keep our Yadav vote intact by focusing on villages,” admitted a senior party functionary.
According to party sources, the Samajwadi leadership has already drawn up an agenda for the rural areas.
The Akhilesh government will ensure that at least one cottage industry comes up in a cluster of villages in each district and the youth are imparted professional training. This will lead to self employment opportunities and also check migration to urban centres.
“We will give the youth professional training in the dairy industry which is low on investment. Besides we will encourage solar energy in village to solve the power problem. Small solar plant that can generate up to 5 MW of power will be set up in villages. We are also trying to link tehsil headquarters with four lane roads,” said an official in the chief minister’s secretariat.
The small scale industry department and Khadi and village industry departments have already been asked to provide financial and professional guidance to youth seeking assistance from rural areas.
( Source : dc )
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