With an eye on 2017 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today exhorted party workers to repeat its 2012 performance as he also asked them to aim for the Centre.
"The state government is like 'Lekhpal' (revenue officer at district) and Centre is 'collector' (District Magistrate). You have to make us both to ensure development," Yadav said.
"SP workers had ensured the party's victory in 2012. Now, your mission should be both state and the Centre. The whole country cannot be yours unless you rule both the state and Delhi," the SP chief said while addressing a convention of representatives of 17 Other Backward Classes (OBC) at the party office here.
At the convention, senior party leader Shivpal Yadav accused the Centre of not fulfilling its promises and of befooling people.
"The central government is befooling people. The promises made by BJP in 2014 Lok Sabha polls were not fulfilled. In UP, we have come up to expectations of the people and fulfilled the promises made by us," he said.
Speaking on the occasion, convention's organiser and state mining minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati said only SP can take a stand in favour of OBC people and if they want to get their rights they should come openly in favour of the party.
Mulayam said he had to struggle hard to give his
Samajwadi Party a shape. He said he followed the ideals of Ram Manohar Lohia and fought for the poor and the farmers.
He said he was sad over the current developments in the party "though I kept myself aloof from what was happening".
Pulling up Akhilesh, Mulayam said, "What is your capability? Can you win elections?"
Though the feud in the Mulayam clan escalated, the SP chief maintained the ties were cordial in the family.
He said some leaders indulged in sycophancy and "I do not like such sycophants".
Referring to those criticising the party, he said those who cannot tolerate criticism, cannot become leaders.
"If criticism is right, there is scope for improvement," he said, adding, "Those who cannot think big, cannot become leaders."
Mulayam said he had not become weak and asserted that Samajwadi Party would not break apart.
"I have ensured that youths get due respect and importance. One should not think youths are not with me," he said.
He said a government or a party does not succeed with the help of slogan-shouting and sycophancy. "I will drive out those shouting slogans," he warned.
He also defended merger of QED with SP and described Ansari's family as "respectable".
Today is the birthday of Akhilesh, who touched the feet of his father and uncle Shivpal to seek their blessings.
