Mumbai,

Buoyed by their Lok Sabha performance in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders on Friday said they were hopeful that India Block allies would give them the respect they deserve in seat-sharing for the Maharashtra Assembly polls. At a function in Mumbai to felicitate newly-elected SP MPs, the party's Maharashtra unit sounded the bugle for the Assembly polls in October.

Raees Sheikh, Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East seat, accused the BJP, Shiv Sena (without disclosing factions) and Congress-NCP of doing injustice to his party workers. The constituents of the opposition MVA alliance in Maharashtra, which includes Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP) and Congress, are also part of the India Block at the national level. Raees Sheikh said, “We are now becoming partners. Today the foundation of India Block rests on the Samajwadi Party. If Akhilesh Yadav says something, no leader of India Block can refuse. We will get the seats we deserve. We want the respect we deserve. Talks have started on seat sharing.”

PDA formula should be implemented in the whole country: Awadhesh Prasad
Raees Sheikh said, 'We are just two MLAs (himself and Abu Azmi), but we can outweigh 100 MLAs… our 10 MLAs will outweigh 288 (the strength of Maharashtra Assembly).' Let us tell you that SP did not contest the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra. It won 37 seats in Uttar Pradesh and gave a big blow to BJP. It has only two MLAs in Maharashtra, both from the Muslim community. SP MP from Faizabad Awadhesh Prasad said that the party's 'Pichhda, Dalit, Minority (PDA)' social engineering formula should be implemented in the whole country. Awadhesh Prasad said, 'Without the support of SP, the government (of India Block) cannot be formed at the Center.'

Azmi targeted MNS without naming it
SP MLA Abu Azmi, who represents Mumbai's Shivajinagar assembly seat, said that the party's morale in Maharashtra is very high after the Lok Sabha elections. Azmi said, “North Indians should not be challenged, otherwise they will give a befitting reply.” He said, “I do not want to spoil my face by taking their name. How many shops and vehicles did they break? Make me the Home Minister once, I will handle them in such a way that they will never forget.”

Though Azmi did not name anyone, his target was the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena. The MNS had launched a campaign against North Indians in 2008, which took a violent turn. Earlier, the Samajwadi Party MPs visited Mumbai's famous Siddhivinayak temple and Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum. They also visited Chaityabhoomi in Dadar, where Dr BR Ambedkar was cremated.