Divided Samajwadi Party aspires for unity of socialist parties

Fissures surface on SP's silver jubilee year function, as power struggle continues

The occasion was the silver jubilee year celebration of the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh and the objective was to demonstrate unity among major constituents of the erstwhile Janata Party against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the run-up to the 2017 state polls.

Yet, the ongoing power struggle and deep fissures in SP came to surface within minutes of the much-hyped function in the presence of party president Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was flanked by veteran socialist movement leaders such as Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, and Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav. Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) president Ajit Singh and Ajay Chautala were also seated on the dias.
 

The acrimony in the ruling Yadav clan became evident when the party's UP unit president Shivpal Singh Yadav addressed the gathering. The counter attack by UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav only re-confirmed it a little later.

Addressing the gathering at the Janeshwar Mishra Park here, Shivpal Singh Yadav, who was last month sacked from the cabinet by Akhilesh over the raging feud, said he had never aspired to become the chief minister.

Shivpal said he was ready for any sacrifice and face multiple sackings and insults by the CM, even ready to give his life if Akhilesh wished so. Shivpal, who was the most powerful minister in the Akhilesh cabinet holding key portfolios of Public Works Department (PWD), irrigation, revenue, water resources etc, said he had extended all support to the CM in fulfilling his objectives. "The Akhilesh government has done good work, but my departments had done equally good work during my tenure," he said even as he claimed some officials had created hurdles in his departments and works which could have been done in three months took years to complete.

 He said during his tenure in different ministries, 42 new tehsils were created, 25 of the 50 district cooperative banks, which were on the verge of closure were revived, 3,500 ponds were created and replenished, while canals lying dry for 25 years were de-silted. Shivpal, whose voice sounded choked at times, observed certain people were creating misunderstandings between them and that they should be identified. Further, he noted a lot of people had been discriminated against in SP, while certain others were enjoying power through sycophancy, an oblique reference to Team Akhilesh members, who have been rewarded with posts in the governments.

An Akhilesh aide, who tried to speak at the podium without invitation, was physically removed by Shivpal on Mulayam's directives. In his address, Akhilesh shot back by saying he would not rejoin issues, but mentioned people would realise their folly when SP would start counting losses. Vouching for his youth wing supporters, many of whom have been sacked from SP, the CM said they had also toiled hard for the party and cycled across the state during the 2012 polls. "I do not want that these youth leaders are subjected to tests on this occasion. However, I am ready to face any test," he underlined. "I am presented with a sword, but not allowed to wield it," he said to cheers from his supporters.

Earlier, Akhilesh was welcomed with a ceremonial sword on the dais. Akhilesh exhorted party leaders to stand united for polls and work towards the party's win. He enumerated the major achievements of his government, such as Agra-Lucknow Expresswsay, Samajwadi Pension, among others. He reiterated UP polls would determine the direction of national politics and attacked BJP for its allegedly divisive tactics. Meanwhile, Mulayam urged youth leaders not to indulge in mere slogan shouting, but also work towards reaching out to the poor at the grassroots.

He said for those believing in the socialist philosophy, struggle and sacrifice were supremely important and power was only incidental. The silver jubilee function was a virtual show of strength by Shivpal after Team Akhilesh had marshalled an impressive show through the flagging of his state-wide Vikas Rath Yatra on Thursday.

The inaugural day of the Rath Yatra had witnessed huge turnout, especially youth cadres, along the 80 odd km route from Lucknow to Unnao district. It was marked by shrill slogan shouting, prompting Mulayam to lecture that SP was the result of struggle, sacrifice and hard work and mere slogan shouting would bring no gain to party. While, Akhilesh's Rath Yatra is being managed by his aide Sunil Yadav Sajan, who was sacked from SP, the party's silver jubilee programme was put together by cabinet minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati, a close confidante of Mulayam.