Sudden demonetization has created quite a stir not only for aam janta but also for political parties especially for those who will face upcoming elections in UP and Punjab.

It is not strange that Samajwadi Party (SP) patriarch Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati — bitter rivals facing tough assembly elections next year are singing the same tune. Both Yadav and Mayawati called the move anti-poor, saying it served the interests of only “big industrialists” who backed the BJP.

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday said the “sudden ban” on high denomination notes showed the NDA government did not keep the plight of people in mind and took the decision with an eye on Assembly elections.

“The sudden ban on high denomination notes has caused immense hardships to commoners, farmers and the poor, the demonetisation has been done by the NDA government with an eye on elections, and not keeping plight of people in mind,” he told a press conference.

He said SP, the ruling party in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, too was opposed to the use of black money in elections.

The SP patriarch demanded a roll back of demonetisation decision for a few days in view of the wedding season. He suggested that people be given a week’s time by the government, which had on Tuesday night announced withdrawal of 500 and 1,000 rupee notes from circulation in a bid to flush out black money and to check corruption.

For her part, Mayawati called the Centre’s decision anti-Dalit and anti-poor.

“It hurt the poorest of the poor as they don’t money to buy food. Modi took the decision to harass people after making his party economically strong by helping industrialists and capitalists.”

She said the people will punish the BJP in the UP elections. “Just before UP elections, Modi has realised the problem of black money after remaining in the saddle at the Centre for two-and-a-half years … 90% people are unhappy with this decision,” Mayawati added.