UP polls: Akhilesh is alliance boss, changing narrative makes it evident

As Uttar Pradesh gears up for phase 6 polling for assembly elections 2017, the narrative in the SP-Congress alliance is slowly changing. That Samajwadi Party is the senior partner in the alliance was clear from day one but changing narratives now proves that Akhilesh is the boss while Rahul Gandhi takes a back seat as far as campaigning goes.

What started off as 'UP ke ladke' tagline of the alliance is now returning to SP's original 'Kaam bolta hai'. Boards, hoardings and even campaign slogans of 'Kaam Bolta Hai' are reverberating in Uttar Pradesh. The alliance is pushing SP's orginal campaign line to highlight development as against attacking the 'baharwallahs' of rival parties. The alliance partners seem to have realised that pushing development agenda and achievements of the Akhilesh Yadav government gives them a better appeal than from attacking the BJP and BSP. Especially since both, BJP and BSP are heavily pushing the development agenda.

The Congress with its few MLAs is surely working for the campaigning but internal squabbles among grassroot level workers continue. The supremacy of the SP's campaign tagline over the alliance's joint tagline has done little to put the tension to rest. While SP as well as the Congress has have time and again stated that both partners are level players, the dwindling popularity of 'UP ke Ladke' and rising popularity of 'Kaam bolta hai' sings another tune.

OneIndia News