The difference amongst the family members are now clear on the forefront and this might not be very good sign for the future of the party. Though the father and the son are disguising that everything between them is sorted out, the absence of Senior Yadav from the annual convention indicates another story.
The Samajwadi Party on 5 Oct held its National Annual Convention meet in Agra and though SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav had confirmed his presence, he chose to stay away from the meet. Former Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav had sent an invitation to his father Mulayam Singh Yadav to attend the party convention, which the latter has accepted.
However, on 5 Oct both Mulayam Singh Yadav and his brother Shivpal Singh chose to stay in Lucknow signalling a free hand to Akhilesh to handle the party’s affairs. In a statement given to the press, an SP member said that “Akhilesh has already got Netaji’s (Mulayam Singh Yadav) blessings. I hope Akhilesh will soon meet Netaji at his residence in Lucknow in the presence of Shivpal.”
During the meeting, Akhilesh Yadav was re-elected as the Samajwadi Party President for the term of five years. This means Akhilesh will be leading the party in the Lok Sabha elections due in 2019. According to the sources, Akhilesh will now be concentrating on forming strategies for the general elections and finalising the candidates for the polls.
Another SP source revealed that the party president will be focusing on the party’s district unit and will be reviewing the organisational works on a regular basis such as the setting up of booth committee.
While addressing the convention, Akhilesh Yadav hinted that the party may be using the issues of demonetisation and GST as its weapons against the Modi government. During his speech, he also expressed his displeasure on the absence of his father. He said that ‘I requested ‘Netaji’ (Mulayam) to attend the convention. Everyone would have liked it (his presence). I talked to him (Mulayam) yesterday and today also before coming to the convention. I told him that it a big convention and amendments in the party constitution will also be passed and without your blessings, the party cannot progress.”
The absence of Mulayam Singh Yadav was felt throughout the meet as speaker after speaker somehow referred to him. During the meet, Senior SP leader Azam Khan cited the incident of how the party was formed by Mulayam Singh in 1992 and Khan had the honour of declaring Mulayam Singh as the party President.
Another senior leader Kironmay Nanda also recalled the time when the party was formed and said that “Netaji will remain leader of all the socialists. I talked to him today and he said my blessing is with you and you also bless Akhilesh.”
Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan quoting the words of Mulayam Singh Yadav said that Netaji had always stressed on encouraging the youth and today the party as a youth as the president. She also added, “We were with ‘Netaji’ and Samajwadi Party and will remain so.”
Another party leader and former minister Arvind Singh Gope said that the morale of the party workers will be boosted with the blessings of Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Akhilesh Yadav’s wife Dimple Yadav also thanked the senior Yadav saying that “blessings of Netaji are there with the SP resident (Akhilesh), me and the entire party. I thank him for that.”
Another thing that did not go unnoticed was that on the stage in Agra where the convention was held there was a photograph of Mulayam along with Akhilesh and other leaders. While in on the hoardings too that were spread across the city, the pictures of Akhilesh along with Mulayam Singh Yadav and other SP leaders were featured, however, his Uncle Shivpal Yadav seemed to be missing from all of them.