 "Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav with party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. (Photo: PTI)")
Two days after the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) heir apparent and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav marshalled a massive show of strength in Lucknow through his ‘Vikas Rath Yatra’, the party’s old guard is gearing up to exhibit might at SP’s silver jubilee foundation day celebration on Saturday.
Over the past almost two months, the party has been embroiled in an acrimonious power struggle between Akhilesh, representing the youth brigade, and his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav, who enjoys the backing of SP patriarch and national president Mulayam Singh Yadav, representing the old guards.
While SP’s silver jubilee celebrations had been announced much earlier, Akhilesh had unilaterally decided to launch his state-wide ‘Vikas Rath Yatra’ from November 3, two days before the grand function.
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He had written a terse letter to Mulayam informing him of the decision and mentioning that his Rath Yatra programme had already been delayed by a month due to certain intermediate factors even as other parties had launched their poll campaigns in run up to the 2017 UP polls.
The inaugural day of the Rath Yatra had witnessed huge turnout, especially youth party leaders from across the state, along the 80-odd km route from Lucknow to Unnao district.
The start of the Yatra from the La Martiniere College ground yesterday was marked by shrill slogan shouting by the youth cadres even as Mulayam was addressing the gathering. So much so that the former defense minister had to mention that SP was the result of struggle, sacrifice and diligence, and that mere slogan shouting would bring no gain to party.
Besides, Akhilesh’s much hyped programme had active participation by several youth party leaders, who had been sacked from SP by Shivpal on Mulayam’s directives over indiscipline.
However, Akhilesh’s unflinching support to these leaders has signalled hardening of stand in the backdrop of the feud over greater control in party and government by the two factions.
While, Akhilesh’s Rath Yatra is been managed by his close aide and legislator Sunil Yadav Sajan, who was sacked from SP, the party’s silver jubilee programme is being organised by cabinet minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati, who is an close confidante of Mulayam.
Prajapati has claimed tomorrow’s programme would witness several hundred thousands of gathering from across the state.
Akhilesh has already announced he would attend the party’s function tomorrow and exhorted youth leaders to work towards its success. However, by and large, Team Akhilesh has maintained a distance from its planning so far.
Senior Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav are also likely to attend, since SP has sent out invitations to all the former Janata Party constituents and major socialist outfits. There is, however, suspense over the presence of Bihar chief minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar at the function.
SP is trying for coalition in the state before polls to stop Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from coming to power. Mulayam had even met Congress’ poll strategist Prashant Kishor in this regard.
