Rivals spot opportunity in Yadav feud

LUCKNOW: The apparent 'feud' in the Yadav clan might have come as a blessing for the opposition. BSP insiders believe the dispute will lead to Muslim voters, loyal to the SP since the Ram temple movement, drifting to Mayawati's party .

BSP's strategists claim Muslims may no longer feel the SP can "stop the BJP" and, reacting to the situation, Mayawati is learnt to have called her senior Muslim leaders and sought ground reports from Muslim dominated seats.

"She's focusing on cashing in on a possible divide in the Muslim vote,'' a BSP senior said. Mayawati has decided to give 100-plus tickets to Muslims, way more than in 2007 and 2012 when she fielded 61 and 83 community nominees. This, said an expert, is part of her Dalit-Muslim consolidation agenda.

But BJP strategists also believe they have a clear edge. They say that BSP has lost steam after many of its seniors crossed over to their side. The saffron outfit has said from the start that it's in a direct clash with SP and groupism in the ruling party will weaken it, bolstering BJP's chances.

The Muslim community that comprises 19% of UP's population can influence the electoral prospects in over 70 seats. Roughly 52% of UP Muslims voted SP in 2002. This rose to 60% in 2014. In 2012, when the SP won, it got 54% of the Muslim vote. The BSP has improved its Muslim vote share -doubling from 9% in 2002 to 18% in 2007 and again in 2014.

But that may still not be enough for Mayawati who seeks to increase her vote share by another 4% to 6%. For that, experts claim, BSP must get at least 30% to 40% of Muslim votes.