Confident Akhilesh tells party workers to gear up for polls
TRUCE BID? Shivpal’s effort to mend fences gets lukewarm response from CM
Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s grim mood changed after the first round of discussions with Mulayam Singh Yadav at the Samajwadi Party chief ’s residence around 3pm.
He appeared to be beaming with confidence when he came out of his father’s residence. The others who had attended the meeting were senior leaders, including Shivpal Singh Yadav, who looked slightly downcast.
A confident looking chief minister told the legislators who thronged his house to start preparing for the elections, the campaign for which will be launched after Diwali. Over 150 MLAs called on the chief minister, giving an indication they were with him.
The chief minister told them there was no question of forming a new party. He will lead the campaign and bring the party to power on his development agenda. “Go to your constituency, join the people and hear their problems to ensure that they elect you again in 2017,” said the chief minister.
“Netaji has built the party and Akhilesh Yadav will be the CM face of the Samajwadi Party in the 2017 assembly elections,” said Ramvraksh Singh Yadav MLC. He described the family feud as nothing more than a clash of ideas. As the legislators came out one after the other after meeting the chief minister, the workers were seen keenly watching their movements. As a drone deployed to keep a watch on the crowd outside was seen flying over the road outside the chief minister’s 5-Kalidas Marg residence the workers began shouting slogans in favour of chief minister.
“Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has put an end to all the disputes in the party. Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav will be the chief ministerial face of the party,” said Rakesh Yadav, MLC.
Around 7pm, Shivpal drove down to the chief minister’s residence. He had a brief meeting with Akhilesh. Before the discussion between the duo started, Akhilesh left to meet Mulayam. While he drove down to his father’s residence, Shivpal stayed put at the CM’s house. Later, Shivpal left for his residence and the meeting between the duo remained inconclusive. An SP leader said, “When Shivpal realised that a majority of the party MLAs were with Akhilesh he decided to settle the contentious issue of ticket distribution for the 2017 election campaign. But Akhilesh gave him the cold shoulder,” he said.
A party leader said Mulayam had a health issue and Akhilesh summoned a doctor. He took the doctor to his father’s room. After the doctor left 5 Vikramaditya Marg at 9.30pm, Akhilesh returned to his 4 Vikramaditya Marg residence to be with his family.
The residence of Shivpal Yadav – 7 Kalidas Marg — wore a deserted look. On September 16, when Shivpal had resigned from the cabinet, a large number of MLAs, leaders and workers thronged his residence. “The leaders know that the balance of power had shifted to Akhilesh and he would call the shots in the assembly election,” said Mohammad Alam Khan, a party leader.
“Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has put an end to all the disputes in the party. Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav will be the chief ministerial face of the party,” said Rakesh Yadav, another MLC.