CM reworks campaign plan; yatra on hold
In view of the changed scenario in the Samajwadi Party wherein Shivpal Yadav has taken over the party’s state presidentship from chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, the CM on Saturday decided to rework his poll campaign programme, keeping the “Vikas Rath Yatra” on hold for some time and, instead, focusing on development.
He will lay the foundation stone of Kanpur Metro on October 4.
“My programme has changed a bit now. I will lay the foundation of Kanpur Metro project on October 4. I will hold consultations for an appropriate, auspicious time (disha and dasha) to decide future yatra programme,” said Akhilesh, who was to begin his ‘Vikas Yatra’ on October 3.
He said the 2017 assembly elections would be a test of his government and so he wanted to have a role in the distribution of tickets.
On whether the unfolding developments in the party had damaged its poll prospects, Akhilesh said, “You have seen my game. I play football etc. But I don’t indulge in self-goal (goal against own team).”
He added: “Politics is not a game. I have not considered politics a game. Netaji trusted in me by making me chief minister and I consider politics a serious business,” he said.
The CM was speaking to media persons after congratulating his uncle Shivpal at the latter’s residence for being appointed the party’s state president.
“I have just come back after congratulating the new state Samajwadi Party president appointed by Netaji. It’s his responsibility. He will take the state government’s achievements to the people. I will extend him full cooperation whatever I can do on the part of state government,” Akhilesh said.
“I have asked my workers not to indulge in any slogan shouting or put up any hoardings. As the elections are coming closer, the workers should take the government’s programmes to the people,” he said.
Akhilesh said he travelled down memory lane and recollected how Netaji had appointed him the national incharge of SP’s four youth wings -- Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha, Lohia Vahini, Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha and Mulayam Singh Yadav Youth Brigade. Explaining his point he said in a lighter vein that though he held the posts even now, he may be deprived of it if his adversaries realised so.
Listing the achievements of his government, he spoke about how he managed to cut down funds allotted for other development schemes to allot Rs 2,000 crore to give compensation to farmers for damage caused to their crops.
“The SP government is taking the state ahead on the path of development. We will have to tell people what benefits they are getting. Will have to tell people about our programmes . I spoke to Ramdev. His business has gone up manifold and he should work to expand his business of food processing on Yamuna Expressway or in Noida etc. I am making efforts to bring him here. I am also taking his help for bringing an improvement in working of mandis,” he said.
Akhilesh added: “We are short of time. We were on number 1 position. But some surveys did show that we are getting 140 seats. The opposition parties must be happy. They are experts in publicity.
They must be feeling there is infighting in the Samajwadi Party. Some parties will thank us for this. The samajwadis (socialists) say they do not work together for long. But we are new socialists. We know what challenges the country and the state is facing.”