Government tailoring backward parameters to suit JD(U): Samajwadi Party

NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party has accused the Centre of tailoring the parameters to declare a state as backward to cut a deal with JD(U) which rules Bihar, warning it cannot ignore that Uttar Pradesh too needs special concessions.


There are indications that the Raghuram Rajan panel's review of backwardness criteria of states would make Bihar an automatic gainer. The Samajwadi camp has latched on to these reports to seek similar help for UP.

Ramgopal Yadav and Naresh Aggarwal have given a notice for discussion in Rajya Sabha on the Centre's "discriminatory attitude" with states. "If the Centre is changing the parameters to help Bihar, then it cannot ignore UP," Aggarwal said.

The demand seems dictated by the 2014 elections with SP seeking to project itself as the champion of UP's interests as also to paint the Congress as villain.

While there are few signs that the demand will find favour with the Centre, Samajwadis think the debate will embarrass the Congress since its leadership hails from UP.

Having swept the assembly elections last year, Mulayam Singh Yadav will be locked in a four-way contest with BSP, Congress and BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The possibility of Narendra Modi's projection as PM candidate reviving the BJP's performance in UP is a subject of discussion but SP seems focused on Congress, aware that it has overlapping support base like Muslims with the "secular" rival.

Congress hurt SP badly in 2009 when it managed to win 20 seats, finishing two seats behind the Samajwadis while charging ahead of BSP and BJP.