Position in State and National Politics
Although formerly aligned with the Indian National Congress (INC), Samajwadi formed an alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Lok Janshakti Party of Bihar which is not at all acceptable to the INC.
The Samajwadi Party supports Indian National Congress from outside at the National level. It's stated ideology has made it stay away from any alliances with Bharatiya Janata Party which is another National Party at the centre currently in opposition. It is currently the 3rd largest party in parliament. But its main rival in Uttar Pradesh is Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) which has emerged as a major political force in the state. The BSP primarily focuses on Dalit and backward caste votes. The Samajwadi Party continues to be the third largest party. In general elections, 2009, it bagged 23 seats coming behind the Indian National Congress with 206 seats and the Bharatiya Janata Party with 116 seats.
In West Bengal, West Bengal Socialist Party of Kiranmoy Nanda had merged with SP. As of now, SP has 1 MLA in West Bengal, 3 MLAs in Maharashtra, 2 MLAs in Bihar and one MLA (after 2008 polls) in Madhya Pradesh.
Read more about this topic: Samajwadi Party
Famous quotes containing the words position, state, national and/or politics:
“I believe that all women of working ages and physical capacity, regardless of income, should be expected to earn their livings either in or out of the home. Until this attitude prevails I believe the position of women will be uncertain and undignified, in spite of poetic rhapsodies to the contrary.”
—Mary Barnett Gilson (1877–?)
“The truth is, the whole administration under Roosevelt was demoralized by the system of dealing directly with subordinates. It was obviated in the State Department and the War Department under [Secretary of State Elihu] Root and me [Taft was the Secretary of War], because we simply ignored the interference and went on as we chose.... The subordinates gained nothing by his assumption of authority, but it was not so in the other departments.”
—William Howard Taft (1857–1930)
“Mr. Christian, it is about time for many people to begin to come to the White House to discuss different phases of the coal strike. When anybody comes, if his special problem concerns the state, refer him to the governor of Pennsylvania. If his problem has a national phase, refer him to the United States Coal Commission. In no event bring him to me.”
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933)
“All politics takes place on a slippery slope. The most important four words in politics are “up to a point.””
—George F. Will (b. 1941)