The Samajwadi Party plans to consolidate its organisation in Bihar and target the Dal's vote bank.
The party has sensed that Janata Dal president and Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav has been pushed to the wall due to his alleged involvement in the multi-crore fodder scam. Under the leadership of SP state unit chief Pappu Yadav, the party plans to hold organisational camps at the district levels throughout the state. Although the dates have not been formally decided, it may be held sometime in May.
These camps will be along the line of ones held recently in Uttar Pradesh. One of the central office bearer would visit the camp and explain to the party workers the tenets of Lohia's socialism, the party's official ideology.
One senior party functionary explained that, since the Dal's popularity is on the wane there is an urgent need to fill the void. We have the same social base of Yadavs, Muslims and most backward castes (MBCs) and hence the Janata Dal and the Samajwadi Party belong to the same family. If we consolidate our position we feel that we can fill the gap, he said.
He added that since the Left parties were the SP's natural allies, the SP could gain from the combination with the Left parties in Bihar as well.
The Left parties have already launched various campaigns in the state against, what they call, misrule and corruption in the state. The latest being the Hisab Do campaigns at the block and district levels throughout the state.
The SP has also launched campaigns against the anarchy in the state. Recently the Bihar unit gave a call for a state-wide rail and rasta roko stir on March 15 and 16.
A decision to this effect was taken at a three-day meeting of the state executive committee of the SP.
Pappu Yadav said the party had been compelled to embark on the agitation in view of the anarchic stituation prevailing in the state. The law and order situation had registered a sharp decline and financial chaos and mismanagement prevailed, he said after the conclusion of the state executive meeting.
The state executive also decided to launch a movement for a separate state of Jharkhand. The next meeting of the state executive committee of his party would soon be held at Dumka in Santhal Praganas district where a concrete strategy would be chalked out in support of the cause.
Describing the demand for a separate state as justified, Yadav said proper initiative has not so far been taken to realise the objective. The demand has much significance and relevance as it involves the sentiments and aspirations of the Jharkhandi masses, he added.
