SP's 27,000-per-seat push takes it to north's 'dalit capital' Agra

NEW DELHI: In its attempt to increase at least 27,000 votes in each assembly seat in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) has targeted two sections of voters -- women and youth -- in its efforts to return to power in the upcoming 2027 assembly polls.

The party is also looking to attract Dalit voters apparently drifting away from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and will hold a SC conference in Agra, the Dalit capital of north India, on November 15.

"I have been touring West UP to invite SC voters and am in touch with local organisations to ensure a massive gathering. We will tell voters that BJP does not have SC voters' interests in mind," SP's national general secretary Ramji Lal Suman told ET on phone.


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Two days ago, SP national president Akhilesh Yadav announced a target of adding 27,000 votes in every seat, seeking to cut the BJP's votes by the same number.

The party is also seeking to strengthen its PDA social coalition and has made poll promises targeting women to counter BJP's pro-women schemes, including 'Lakhpati Didi', 'Ration' and Rani Laxmi Bai Scooty Yojana.

SP has promised an annual pension of Rs 40,000 for underprivileged women if it forms the next government and Rs 2 lakh to women seeking to start a business.

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Seeking to woo youth, Akhilesh promised to end the outsourcing system and provide permanent jobs to workers.

His promise to end outsourcing came after the state recently launched the UP Outsourced Service Commission for digital integration of outsourced human resource management. "We have been reaching out to young voters even at the booth level to share the commitments our leader, Akhilesh ji, has made to them," said SP spokesperson Abdul Hafiz Gandhi.

Akhilesh claimed that statues of Babasaheb were damaged in 72 districts and has repeatedly projected the BJP as anti-reservation.