Samajwadi Party

The Samajwadi Party (SP) has a notable presence in Indian politics, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. Founded on October 4, 1992, by Mulayam Singh Yadav, the party espouses socialist principles and has been a significant player in the political landscape of the state.

Under Mulayam Singh Yadav’s leadership, the party has governed Uttar Pradesh multiple times. His tenure saw SP as the ruling party on three occasions. The most recent period of governance was under his son, Akhilesh Yadav, who led a full majority government from 2012 to 2017.

As of 2024, the Samajwadi Party is the third-largest political party in India and holds the position of the largest party in Uttar Pradesh. The party, along with its allies in the Samajwadi Alliance SP+, forms the largest bloc in Uttar Pradesh, both in terms of Lok Sabha MPs and the overall vote share. In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the alliance secured over 37% of the vote, and in the 2024 general elections, it garnered 44% of the vote.

This robust performance underscores the party’s substantial influence in Uttar Pradesh and its enduring significance in Indian politics.

History:

The Samajwadi Party (SP) was formed in 1992 by Mulayam Singh Yadav amid the fragmentation of the Janata Dal into regional parties. Established shortly before the Babri Masjid demolition, SP gained prominence by championing secular politics and securing strong support from Other Backward Classes and Muslims, becoming a major force in Uttar Pradesh.

In 2010, the West Bengal Socialist Party, led by Kiranmoy Nanda, merged with SP. Akhilesh Yadav, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, now leads the party. He first became party president in 2017, with subsequent re-elections in 2017 and again in September 2022.

SP has contested elections nationwide, but its major successes have been in Uttar Pradesh. In the 2012 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, SP won a decisive majority, leading to Akhilesh Yadav becoming Chief Minister instead of his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav. This marked SP’s first full five-year term in power. However, in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the party suffered a significant defeat, securing only 47 seats as the Bharatiya Janata Party dominated.

At the National Convention on January 1, 2017, convened by Ram Gopal Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav was appointed as the Samajwadi Party president for a five-year term.

Alliance History:

UPA Support:

The Samajwadi Party (SP) provided outside support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government until the 14th general election. Following this election, SP’s support was no longer needed as the UPA emerged as the largest alliance. In the 2009 general elections, SP contested in alliance with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) of Bihar.

SP-BSP Alliance:

In the 2019 general elections, SP, in alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), was defeated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh. SP won only five seats, while BSP secured ten, resulting in SP becoming the 13th largest party in Parliament.

INDIA Alliance:

Recently, SP joined the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), a coalition of opposition parties. In the 2024 general elections, SP achieved a historic milestone by winning 37 seats, making it the third-largest party in the 18th Lok Sabha. In Uttar Pradesh, SP, allied with the Indian National Congress, won 43 out of 80 seats, reflecting a significant gain for the INDIA Alliance.

State Assembly Presence:

SP holds two MLAs each in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, and one MLA in the 2022 Gujarat assembly election.

Samajwadi Prahari and Samajwadi Samvad:

Under Kailash Chaurasia, then Minister of State in Uttar Pradesh, and Dr. Arvind Srivastava’s direction, Shri Shivendra Nandan announced the formation of the Samajwadi Prahari and Samajwadi Samvad. These initiatives were designed to present public views and address key issues such as equal rights and youth inequality.

Samajwadi Party Campaigning Groups:

The Samajwadi Party has several prominent campaigning groups, including:

– Chhatra Sabha Sanwad: Focused on student issues.

– Yuvjan Sabha Sanwad: Targeted at youth engagement.

– Samajwadi Prahari Sanwad: Dedicated to public awareness and security.

– Mulayam Singh Youth Brigade Sanwad: Emphasizing youth involvement in party activities.

– Lohia Vahini Sanwad: Named after Ram Manohar Lohia, addressing social justice issues.

– Shikshak Sabha Sanwad: Representing educators and educational concerns.

– Vyapar Sabha Sanwad: Catering to business and trade interests.

– Adhivakta Sabha Sanwad: Engaging with legal professionals.

– Ambedkar Vahini Samwad: Focused on issues related to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s ideals and the Dalit community.

Elections:

Lok Sabha Elections:

Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly:

In the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party’s performance varied significantly across terms. In the 12th Vidhan Sabha of 1993, the party contested 256 seats, winning 109 with 17.94% of the vote, totaling 8,963,697 votes. By the 13th Vidhan Sabha in 1996, SP contested 281 seats, securing 110 with a 21.80% vote share and 12,085,226 votes. The 14th Vidhan Sabha in 2002 saw the party contest 390 seats, winning 143 and achieving 25.37% of the vote with 13,612,509 votes. In the 15th Vidhan Sabha of 2007, SP contested 393 seats and won 97, capturing 25.43% of the vote with 13,267,674 votes. The party experienced a significant boost in the 16th Vidhan Sabha in 2012, where it contested 401 seats, won 224, and gained 29.15% of the vote with 22,107,241 votes. However, in the 17th Vidhan Sabha of 2017, SP contested 311 seats but won only 47, receiving 21.82% of the vote and 18,923,689 votes. In the most recent 18th Vidhan Sabha elections in 2022, SP contested 347 seats, won 111, and achieved a notable 32.06% vote share with 29,543,934 votes.

Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly:

In the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party’s performance has been notably limited. In the 11th Vidhan Sabha of 1998, the party contested 228 seats but won only 4, capturing 1.58% of the vote with 419,626 votes. The 12th Vidhan Sabha in 2003 saw an increase in contested seats to 161, but SP won just 7, securing 3.71% of the vote with 946,891 votes. In the 13th Vidhan Sabha of 2008, SP contested 187 seats and won only 1 seat, achieving 1.90% of the vote with 501,324 votes. The 14th Vidhan Sabha in 2013 was even less favorable, with the party contesting 161 seats and failing to win any, garnering only 1.2% of the vote and 404,853 votes. In the 15th Vidhan Sabha of 2018, SP contested 52 seats, won 1 seat, and received 1.3% of the vote with 496,025 votes.

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly:

In the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party’s performance has been relatively modest. In the 9th Vidhan Sabha of 1995, the party contested 22 seats, winning 3 with 0.93% of the vote, totaling 356,731 votes. In the 10th Vidhan Sabha of 1999, SP contested 15 seats, securing 2 seats and 0.70% of the vote, with 227,640 votes. The 11th Vidhan Sabha in 2004 saw the party contest 95 seats but fail to win any, obtaining 1.13% of the vote and 471,425 votes. In the 12th Vidhan Sabha of 2009, SP contested 31 seats, won 4, and achieved 1.11% of the vote with 337,378 votes. The 13th Vidhan Sabha in 2014 was challenging, with the party contesting 22 seats and winning just 1, receiving 0.17% of the vote and 92,304 votes. The most recent 14th Vidhan Sabha in 2019 saw SP contest 7 seats, winning 2 and garnering 0.22% of the vote with 123,267 votes.

Chief Ministers:

1. Mulayam Singh Yadav
   • Constituency: Jaswantnagar
   • Term of Office: December 4, 1993 – June 3, 1995
   • Tenure Length: 1 year, 181 days
   • Party: Samajwadi Party
   • Assembly: Twelfth Assembly (1993–95)
2. Mulayam Singh Yadav
   • Constituency: Gunnaur
   • Term of Office: August 29, 2003 – May 13, 2007
   • Tenure Length: 3 years, 257 days
   • Party: Samajwadi Party
   • Assembly: Fourteenth Assembly (2002–07)
3. Akhilesh Yadav
   • Constituency: MLC
   • Term of Office: March 15, 2012 – March 19, 2017
   • Tenure Length: 5 years, 4 days
   • Party: Samajwadi Party
   • Assembly: Sixteenth Assembly (2012–17)

Central Ministers:

Mulayam Singh Yadav

• Term of Office: June 1, 1996 – March 19, 1998
• Portfolio: Minister of Defence
• Prime Ministers: H. D. Deve Gowda, I. K. Gujral

Janeshwar Mishra

• Term of Office: July 10, 1996 – May 1997
• Portfolio: Minister of Water Resources
• Prime Ministers: H. D. Deve Gowda, I. K. Gujral

Beni Prasad Verma

• Term of Office: June 1, 1996 – March 19, 1998
• Portfolio: Minister of Communications and Information Technology
• Prime Ministers: H. D. Deve Gowda, I. K. Gujral

Saleem Iqbal Shervani

• Term of Office: May 1997 – March 19, 1998
• Portfolio: Minister of External Affairs (Minister of State)
• Prime Minister: I. K. Gujral

Controversies:

Support for Criminals:

The Samajwadi Party has faced criticism for its alleged support of individuals with criminal backgrounds, such as Atiq Ahmed and Mukhtar Ansari. Both Ahmed and Ansari were implicated in multiple criminal cases, including murder, illegal arms possession, property grabbing, and assault. Ahmed was killed in April 2023 while being escorted for a court-ordered medical check, and Ansari died in prison in March 2024 from a heart attack while serving his sentence.

Sand Mining Case:

During Akhilesh Yadav’s tenure as Chief Minister from 2012 to 2017, a major scandal involving illegal sand mining emerged. The scandal implicated then Minister of State for Mining Gayatri Prasad Prajapati. IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal launched a crackdown in July 2013, conducting raids and seizing equipment to halt illegal sand mining. However, Nagpal was suspended by Yadav for demolishing a mosque wall, which was deemed a violation of Supreme Court rules and reportedly done out of malice. This suspension faced significant criticism from opposition leaders and IAS officers, and was later revoked in September 2013.

Misogyny:

The Samajwadi Party has been criticized for its misogynistic stance and opposition to women’s rights. In March 2010, during the push for the Women’s Reservation Bill, which aimed to allocate 33% of legislative seats to women, Mulayam Singh Yadav opposed the bill and threatened to withdraw from the United Progressive Alliance. He criticized the bill by suggesting it would lead to the election of women who would attract inappropriate attention, and later claimed in November 2012 that the bill would only benefit affluent and attractive women, not those from poorer backgrounds. These comments were widely condemned as sexist by political leaders across parties, including members of his own party.