SP-BSP alliance in Lok Sabha Election: Letters to The EDITOR

SP-BSP alliance in Lok Sabha Election

In a significant development for the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, SP and DSP have confirmed their alliance in Uttar Pradesh, declaring they will contest 38 seats each in the state. Interestingly, while Congress isn't part of the alliance, the two regional heavyweights have decided not to contest the Amethi and Rae Bareli teats held by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Sonar Gandhi respectively.

This indicates that the door might still be open for Congress to join up with SP and BSP in a post-poll arrangement should the opportunity or necessity arise Plus, it is also likely that a pre-poll tie up with Congress would see SP and DSP votes being transferred to the Grand Old Party but not the other way around. However, the SP-BSP combine's main target is BJP. The latter had won a whopping 71 out of 80 seats in UP in 2014, which played a critical role in BJP retaining the capability of forming a majority government on its own. But the SP-BSP alliance is projected to be a big challenge even for the DIP juggernaut. For, should DSP hold on to its Dalit vote base and SP retain a sizeable chunk of Yaduvs and OBCs, it could spell serious trouble for HIP in the Hindi heartland,

Plus, the alliance will also ensure that unlike 2014 Muslim voles won't split to the advantage of DIP, In fact, in the 2017 UP assembly polls SP and DSP had both won 22% vote share. If they are able to po11 similar numbers again, it would be a game changer. In a first-past-the-pots system it could mean a big drop in seats for BJP in an election where every seat change will impact the complexion of the future Union govemment.

But these are Lok Sabha polls and BJP will also be putting its best foot forward. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's forceful campaigning could upset opposition calculations yet again. Besides, notwithstanding the opposition's success in recent assembly polls and bypolls earlier, voters could make a distinction in their state-level and national-level choices. Nonetheless, the SP-BSP tie up does provide a solid pillar for the opposition's mahagathbandhan plans across the country. And as Mayawati has suggested, this alliance in the bellwether state - building on anti-incumbency at both central and state levels - should give the Modi-Shah combine some sleepless nights.

Salish Kuniar Sarma,

Kalyanpur, Biswanath Chariali.

Corporates should adopt colonies for Hindu refugees

Media-reports about miserable living conditions of Hindu refugees from Pakistan now settled in Delhi like in colonies near Majnu-ka-Teela and Adarsh Nagar. Union Minister of External Affairs has recently taken up matter of forcible conversion and marriage of Hindu girls in Pakistan. It is but natural that Hindu refugees from Pakistan did not leave their homes in Pakistan willingly, rather they had to do so under compulsion.

Corporates including from public-sector have to compulsorily spend two per cent of their income on social welfare. The Central government should issue a press release whereby it may be made clear that spending on welfare and living of Hindu refugees from Pakistan will be allowed under CSR. If private corporates do not come forward to spend CSR funds on these refugees, then central ministries can direct Public Sector Undertakings under them to do so from their CSR funds, including construction of flats. Corporates can even arrange jobs for these refugees where Hindus in Pakistan face sufferings because of wrong policies of Indian political rulers crowned at time of independence. Religious bodies and Non-Government-Organizations (NGOs) should also take steps that these Hindu refugees may enjoy a human life full of joy and satisfaction.

Madhu Agrawal,

Dariba, Chandni Chowk,

Delhi-110006.