From MSP promise to caste census, how Congress-SP manifestos align

A dominant opposition in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party released its manifesto on April 10 in the build up to the Lok Sabha elections. Some elements of the party’s manifesto for the 80-seat state overlaps with the promises made by Congress, an INDIA bloc ally of the Akhilesh Yadav-led party.

Both political heavyweights promised a caste census by 2025, removal of the Agnipath scheme and providing farmers with a Minimum Support Price. Caste census has been a point of friction between the BJP and the INDIA bloc, which wishes to adjust quotas for marginalised communities.

The 20-page document from the SP has called for a PDA government this time. PDA is an acronym for Pichde (backward classes), Dalit and Alpasankhyak (minorities) that was coined by Yadav.

The party also promised to restore the old pension scheme, ensure the participation of all sections of society in the private sector and completely eliminate poverty by 2029.

The other promises made in the manifesto are to stop privatisation and retrenchment of central and state public sector units and to set up smart village clusters across the country to be operated through the Smart Village Cluster Development Authority.

The SP is contesting 62 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh as part of the alliance, while the Congress is contesting 17 seats. The Bhadohi Lok Sabha seat has been given to Trinamool Congress.

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