Lucknow: The Election Commission's recognition to the Akhilesh Yadav faction as the Samajwadi Party and allotting the 'bicycle' symbol to it will have an impact on UP Assembly polls and might force both BSP and BJP to redraw their poll strategy.
Both the parties had been banking heavily on the internal feud in the first family of the state with Mayawati projecting her party as the only force to take on the saffron brigade in the face of a weakened Samajwadi Party.
BJP, on the other hand, was seeking to capitalise by promising development and law and order.
With Akhilesh-led SP patching an alliance with Congress later, the combine will be the main contender against the resurgent BJP in the coming elections in UP.
SP and Congress together will seek to offer a stronger and cleaner alternative to the Muslim electorate which will be looking for a party that could defeat BJP.
Muslim voters, who account for nearly 20 percent of Uttar Pradesh's population, can make or mar the electoral prospects of key political parties vying for the top slot in the high-stake elections.
While divided Muslim votes will benefit for BJP, a consolidation will change the poll arithmetic as minorities play a crucial role in at least 125 of 403 constituencies.
Muslims are known to go with a party or alliance that stands the best chance to defeat BJP and Akhilesh-led SP and Congress together could provide them with this option.
This would also mean that the extent of Muslim support to BSP will not be up to its expectations to see its candidates through.
Working on this equation, Mayawati gave tickets to Muslims in as many as 97 constituencies, but her old record of allying with BJP for power in UP often returns to haunt her.
