Upper caste outreach strategy unveiled by Akhilesh, but experts question its effectiveness

Akhilesh redraws ‘PDA’ to woo upper castes; rhetoric may not be enough, say political analysts. (See the linked source for details.)

Source

The Hindu — National →

Quick Revision

Prelims-testable facts

01The Samajwadi Party (SP) under Akhilesh Yadav has expanded its 'PDA' (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) plank to include Brahmins and Baniyas.
02The SP's move is aimed at wooing upper castes in Uttar Pradesh.
03Akhilesh Yadav has launched a targeted outreach effort aimed at Brahmin voters in Uttar Pradesh.
04The SP's PDA strategy has helped widen its coalition, particularly among backward castes.
05The party's older Muslim-Yadav formula is insufficient for a return to power, according to analysts.
06Akhilesh Yadav has formally expanded the definition of the party's 'PDA' outreach strategy to explicitly include Pandits.
07The SP's non-Yadav OBC strategy includes a focus on the Gurjar community in western UP.

Trap alerts

Most people think the SP's PDA strategy only includes backward castes, but actually it has been expanded to include Brahmins and Baniyas.
Most people think Akhilesh Yadav's move is only aimed at wooing Brahmin voters, but actually it is part of a broader effort to expand the party's coalition.

Current-affairs link

The Indian government has implemented the OBC (Other Backward Classes) reservation policy, which provides reservations for socially and educationally backward classes in government jobs and educational institutions.

Prelims Practice MCQs

Single facteasy

Akhilesh Yadav has redrawn the 'PDA' to woo which community?

A.Lower castes
B.Upper castes
C.Scheduled castes
D.Scheduled tribes

Akhilesh Yadav's move is aimed at winning the support of upper castes in the upcoming elections.

Multiple statementsmedium

Consider the following statements regarding Akhilesh Yadav's PDA Scheme: 1. Akhilesh Yadav has redrawn the 'PDA' to woo upper castes. 2. The PDA scheme is aimed at benefiting lower castes. 3. The PDA scheme is a new initiative by Akhilesh Yadav. How many of the above statements are correct?

A.Only one
B.Only two
C.All three
D.None

Statement 1 is correct because the fact list states that Akhilesh Yadav has redrawn the 'PDA' to woo upper castes. Statement 2 is incorrect because the fact list states that the PDA is aimed at wooing upper castes, not lower castes. Statement 3 is correct because the fact list states that the PDA is a scheme.

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