The session of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly is going to start from July 29. Before that many names are being discussed for the leader of the opposition. Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav wants the post of Leader of Opposition to be given to a Dalit in view of the votes polled by Dalits in the Lok Sabha elections. For this reason, the name of the party’s national general secretary Indrajit Saroj and the party’s strong Dalit face Tufani Saroj is running in the forefront. Apart from this, many names are in discussion.
Indrajit Saroj’s claim is the strongest
Indrajit Saroj is the strongest contender for the post of Leader of Opposition. Currently, Indrajit Saroj is also the Deputy Leader of Opposition in the UP Legislative Assembly. Indrajit Saroj, who has a strong hold among Dalit voters, started his political journey from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). He has been MLA and Minister several times. In 2018, Indrajit Saroj joined SP due to differences with Mayawati. Considering his stature, he was made the National General Secretary of the party.
Pushpendra Saroj, son of incumbent MLA Indrajit Saroj from Manzanpur seat, has also won from Kaushambi Lok Sabha seat this time. Indrajit Saroj hails from the same area where current Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya practices his politics. In such a situation, Akhilesh will try to kill two birds with one stone by making Indrajit Saroj the leader of the opposition. One is that a big message will be sent to the Dalit voters and the other is that Keshav Maurya will be surrounded in his own house.
Dalit leader Tufani Saroj is also in the race
If we talk about Dalit leaders, Tufani Saroj is the second biggest leader after Indrajit Saroj. Tufani Saroj, one of SP’s strongest Dalit leaders, has been an MP three times. Currently, his daughter Priya Saroj is an MP from Machhilishahar Lok Sabha seat. Tufani Saroj, a first-time MLA, has a hold on the Dalit voters of Purvanchal. Through Tufani Saroj, SP will try to infiltrate the Pasi voters of BJP.
A backward caste leader can also be assigned a chair
There is also talk that Akhilesh Yadav may hand over the post of leader of opposition to a backward caste leader. Ram Achal Rajbhar has the strongest claim among backward caste leaders. Five-time MLA Ram Achal Rajbhar was also a strong BSP leader, but has joined the SP after falling out with Mayawati. Currently, he is MLA from Akbarpur seat. Ram Achal Rajbhar has a hold on the Rajbhar electorate of Purvanchal, which determines victory and defeat in many seats.
By Ram Achal Rajbhar Akhilesh Yadav will try to give a jaw-dropping reply to Om Prakash Rajbhar. In fact, during the 2022 assembly elections, Om Prakash Rajbhar’s party Subhasp had an alliance with the SP, but Om Prakash Rajbhar joined hands with the BJP after the election results. BJP has bet on Om Prakash Rajbhar to bring the voters of Rajbhar into its fold in Purvanchal. Currently Omprakash Rajbhar is a minister in the UP government.
Apart from Ram Achal Rajbhar, former minister Ramamurthy Verma’s name is also in the race for the Leader of Opposition. Ramamurthy Verma, who was a minister in the Akhilesh Yadav government, has a hold among the Kurmi voters. This time a large section of Kurmi voters went with the SP in the Lok Sabha elections. As a result, more than half a dozen Kurmi leaders of the SP have reached the Lok Sabha. Ramamurthy Verma may be made Leader of Opposition to keep Kurmi voters in his fold.
