Can the BSP-SP alliance in Uttar Pradesh upset BJP’s 2019 arithmetic?

It is evident that the road to Delhi goes through Lucknow. By winning 71 of the 80 seats on its own – two more went to its allies – the BJP’s Uttar Pradesh sweep had a lot to do with its success in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. That is one big reason analysts have started taking a close look at the political dynamics in the state after Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party and Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party announced their alliance. Not surprisingly, there is a view that it would be a big challenge for the BJP in 2019 to deliver a repeat performance. Or even come close. Senior Hindustan Times journalist Vinod Sharma takes a look at the altered political arithmetic of Uttar Pradesh. He sees Tejashwi Yadav’s recent overtures towards Akhilesh Yadav as a bridge between the grand alliance in Bihar which includes the Congress and the SP-BSP alliance which excludes the Congress. “The SP-BSP alliance has room for Congress as is indicated by them not fielding candidates from Rae Bareli and Amethi,” he says. Watch the full video for more details.