SP supremo says the party will project itself, and not any individual as its face for upcoming elections
Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Tuesday fired another salvo at his son, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Singh Yadav, when he declared that the party doesn't have the tradition of projecting any one person as its face. Only the elected legislators will decide on their leader.
Mulayam made it abundantly clear that the party would be its own face for the polls, and it would not be dependent on any single individual. Mulayam was flanked by Akhilesh's bitter foe, uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav, and the four other leaders who were unceremoniously sacked from the UP cabinet by Akhilesh last week.
"Last time people voted me to power, I made him (Akhilesh) the Chief Minister. Previous elections were fought in my name," said Mulayam. Insiders say this is a clear indication that Mulayam has thrown his hat into the ring and wants his son to get off his high horse.
Sources in his camp say the supremo's release of a statement speaking of party workers, the electorate, and himself is a clear message that he is trying to reclaim the command he had bestowed his son.
On the other hand, sources close to Akhilesh Yadav claimed that despite the patriarch's positioning, stalemate can continue as MLAs are against instability before the Assembly elections and want the party to quickly shift into campaign mode.
When asked about the status of the sacked ministers, Mulayam said, "I have left it to the CM. He needs to take a call." Though he reaffirmed that no one has actually come to him seeking the removal of Akhilesh as CM, Mulayam continues to be angry with Ram Gopal Yadav and clearly stated that he doesn't give any weight to what he has said in the last two days.
Even as Mulayam insisted that both family and party will remain united, all eyes are now on Akhilesh Yadav, who since Monday has maintained a studious silence.
Once Mulayam was done with the news conference inside the party office in Lucknow, the crowd outside started shouting slogans for Akhilesh to be reinstated as the party's State President. The commotion lasted for an hour and both Mulayam and Shivpal had to cool their heels inside the party office along with news persons.
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