samajwadi party

amajwadi Party (SP; literally, Socialist Party; founded October 4, 1992) is a recognised state political party inIndia based in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (UP). It describes itself as a democratic socialist party and is mainly representing the interests of a caste grouping called Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

The Samajwadi Party was one of several parties that emerged when the Janata Dal (People's League), India's primary opposition party prior to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), fragmented into several regional parties. The Samajwadi Party is led by Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and defence ministerof India.

The Samajwadi Party is primarily based in Uttar Pradesh. Its support is largely based on OBCs (Other Backward Castes), particularly Mulayam Singh Yadav's own Yadav caste, and Muslims. It has contested Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections around the country, though its successes have been mainly in Uttar Pradesh. In the assembly election in Madhya Pradesh in 2003, the Samajwadi Party gained 7 seats, making it the third largest party in the state. When its candidate won the by-election of Lanji (Balaghat) in 2007, its total tally reached 8.

In the 15th Lok Sabha, it currently has 22 members, making it the third largest party in that house.

In 2005, former Karnataka Chief Minister Bangarappa resigned from the BJP to join the Samajwadi Party. He successfully held his Lok Sabha seat (representing Shimoga) on the Samajwadi ticket.

In the 2007 Uttar Pradesh legislative election, the SP won only 96 seats as compared to 146 in the previous election. As a result, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav had to resign, with his rival Mayawati, leader of the BSP (which won a majority of 207 seats), sworn in as the Chief Minister.

In the 2012 legislative assembly elections of Uttar Pradesh, SP registered a landslide victory with a clear majority in the House, thus enabling it to form the Government in the state. This was expected to be the fifth term of Mulayam Singh Yadav as Chief Minister of state, but he surprised everyone by selecting his son, Akhilesh Yadav, to be the new chief minister (the youngest ever). It became official on March 15. It was also the first time that SP was head of the UP government for a full term of 5 years

Kranti Rath Yatra & Cycle Rally[edit]

State President of the Samajwadi party Akhilesh Yadav conducted a 3-day cycle yatra (march) fromNoida to Agra to protest unauthorized land acquisition by the Mayawati government. His first day's journey was from Noida to Jewar and second day's was Tappal to Mathura. During his visit he assured farmers that no one can acquire their land without their consent and the first right on land is that of farmers.

Hundreds of cycles and a large number of youths traveled with him from Noida to Agra. His cycle and Kranti Rath Yatras set the momentum for the election.

Young members of parliament and state president of the Samajwadi Party Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav launched his Samajwadi Kranti Rath Yatra on September 12, 2011 from Lucknow, keeping in mind the upcoming election in 2012. He started the first phase from Lucknow toKanpur and second phase in Bundelkhand. Due to corruption in the state, SP gen next leader^{[when defined as?]} yatra was a crowd-puller in the Bundelkhand region.

Assembly elections held in Uttar Pradesh in April 2012 saw the Samajwadi Party coming back to power with a landslide majority. The main issues during the election were corruption and development, neither of which favoured the ruling party, BSP.