IT'S the fight of the sena vs the sena vs the sena. The three major contenders in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections—the BJP, Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party—have decided to field their own 'senas' (armies) for election duty. And with so many party 'senas' in the fray, Uttar Pradesh politics is taking on a decidedly 'militant' colour which could spell trouble for the state on the eve of the assembly elections.
Says state BJP chief Kalraj Mishra: "Each booth will be guarded by at least 20 senas." The BJP, which has named its force the Chunav Sena, claims its main task is to safeguard voters and ballot boxes from the Samajwadi Party.
Not content to be left behind, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has formed his own brigade—a battalion of red guards—to protect supporters. The red brigade, comprising 10 lakh volunteers, will keep vigil on the booths and "expose the tacit understanding of BJP and BSP leaders to defeat the SP," says Mulayam.
The BSP is keeping its lathi-wielding Bahujan Volunteers' Force ready for the elections. The cadres, who have also undergone martial training, have already been given uniforms. And they are all not in the 18-30 age group as was earlier decided. Kanshi Ram is now exhorting even the 40-year-old supporters to take up the lathi for his cause. This is to ensure that the strength of the force is not less in any way than Mulayam's brigade. Says Kanshi Ram: "We have to protect our voters and ballot boxes from Mulayam Singh's goondas."
Defending the brigade, Mayawati, erstwhile chief minister and BSP leader, says: "During my four-month tenure, I had arrested one lakh and forty five thousand criminals. They were all Mulayam supporters and they have since been released. They will play havoc during elections if we do not combat them."
The only party which is watching proceedings from the sidelines is the Congress. Riding piggyback on the BSP bandwagon, it appears content to fall back on its depleted party organisation After all, like the other contestants, the Congress is not seeking power on its own.
One person who is keenly waiting for the elections, albeit with a wary eye, must be the Chief Election Commissioner, T.N.Seshan. Due to retire in December, the Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir polls are likely to be the last official duties on his agendas.
