State scan: Tulsidas configured in Uttar Pradesh's caste strategy

The SP is positioning itself as the voice of the OBCs and Dalits, which, respectively, constitute nearly 40 and 21 per cent of the population in UP

Maverick politician Swami Prasad Maurya, who is being criticised for his comments on the Hindu religious text Ramcharitmanas, was recently elevated as national general secretary of the Samajwadi Party (SP).
 

Maurya had observed that certain verses in it contained objectionable language about Dalits and women.
 

With police cases lodged against him after his utterances, Maurya has been criticised not only by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but also by some of his party colleagues.
 

Although SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav was expected to rein in Maurya over his verbal diatribe to avert any potential political damage to the party, the