One of the significant takeaways of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly results is the dismal performance of the Samajwadi Party in the Yadav belt and this is one of the reasons that the observers want SP president Akhilesh Yadav to hold on to the Karhal seat to make a point that he is serious about the State politics. However, the party insiders said Mr. Yadav was yet to take a call.
The BJP won 18 of the 29 seats spread over eight districts of Kasganj, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etawah and Etah, Auraiya, Farrukabad, and Kannauj which have a significant Yadav-Muslim population and were once the bastion of the SP party. The SP won only 10 seats in these districts. One seat was bagged by the BJP ally Apna Dal (Sonelal). The BJP clean-swept three districts: Etah, Farrukabad, and Kannauj.
Observers said if the SP wanted to return to power, it had to sweep these districts and do well in at least the urban constituencies of the Yadav belt.
