Samajwadi Party leaders have decided not to speak against Congress, but to distance themselves from it. They are also annoyed with the continued protest on just the Adani issue.
Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Bihar, Karnataka, Meghalaya, UP and West Bengal among other states are going to bypolls. Contests in many seats are multipolar.
Lokniti-CSDS data shows NDA lost big chunk of non-Jatav Dalit votes to INDIA bloc. But analysts say SP may find it hard to sustain voter coalition that includes both Dalits & Yadav base.
In list of 64 BSP candidates so far, SCs only fielded in reserved seats. 10 Brahmins & 5 Thakurs fielded, but they're unlikely to create dent in BJP's 'upper-caste' vote base, say experts.
MP Afzal Ansari's rivalry with J&K L-G Manoj Sinha, shadow of Mukhtar Ansari's death & realities of region shaped by dire poverty and anti-feudal politics set stage for electoral contest.
Of BSP's 7 Muslim candidates, 4 will fight SP-Congress alliance's Muslim candidates on Amroha, Moradabad, Sambhal & Saharanpur, could lead to counter-polarisation of votes in BJP's favour.
SP bagged 2 seats. Going by strength of parties in the assembly, BJP would have secured 7 seats & SP 3. However, BJP fielded an 8th candidate at the last moment, forcing a contest.
Nick Jonas is not trying to modernise the mangalsutra, but his gesture shows that choices can be equal. If commitment must be flaunted, it need not be gendered.
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