UP: Election 2012 Improved policing under Mayawati could harm Samajwadi Party chances in crucial Yadav belt

ETAH-ETAWAH-MAINPURI: Memories of Mulayam raj vs. failed governance of Mayawati. The competing sentiments are in full play in the Yadav heartland, with a looming question if fears over 'law and order' could hobble the Samajwadi Party in its den. Amid reports of a surge in the halfway voting to Uttar Pradesh assembly, the Samajwadi Party is faced with tough questions in the region where they hope to make strong recoveries to trump the Bahujan Samaj Party.

The palpable sentiment against Mayawati's poor governance may rankle voters, weary of lack of industries or jobs or pilferage of official funds. But in its moment of truth, stray voices, across Etah, Etawah and the rest that is called Mulayam's pocketborough are found asking if "safety" and "police being one phone call away " has not been BSP's accomplishments. Such queries have encouraged the Dalit czarina to seek an anti-Yadav polarization, a gambit, if it pays off, that can surprise many. A talk to voters across the belt led to a rewind to the time when Samajwadis sat in police stations, land grabs were rampant and cops were threatened and abused.

Observers say Mayawati may not be able to stem her losses but she could stall the kind of recovery SP is banking on. Mulayam had won six of eight seats in 2002, but slipped to two in 2007 while Mayawati won four. In nearby Etawah, which houses the SP chief 's native village, his party lost three of four seats.

Across the rugged terrain, with vast rural landscape and pockets of urban bustle, SP, BSP and Congress have put in everything. Mulayam ended the campaign in Etah on Tuesday, while Rahul Gandhi made a last dash for a strongly-placed Vasu Yadav here, besides visiting Mainpuri twice in three days. SP scion Akhilesh came to Etah aday before.