Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh headed by former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is fighting to keep its hold on the politics of the state as the biggest opposition party. Since Yogi Adityanath led government has taken over SP is thriving hard to make its presence felt in the state.
SP is struggling hard to rebuild its base following the difference with his uncle and a veteran leader of the Samajwadi Party, Shivpal Singh Yadav, and confusion of SP allying with its traditional rival BSP. The possibility of Akhilesh joining hands with Mayawati and forming an alliance is marring the party’s credibility. Also, the recent developments observed within the party’s family equations is bringing in a lot of speculations. Akhilesh has restrained himself on targeting Shivpal Singh while the latter is also not counter attacking him, this has build hopes that peace may be returning to the party.
Meanwhile, the party could grab in many opprtunities to come back into the politics of Uttar Pradesh, the Party was busy expanding its membership base. Senior SP leader Arvind Singh in his statement to ET said that “We have made more than 2.75 cr members and the party also launched the “Desh Bachao, Desh Banao” programme to energize its workers. Akhilesh could not cash in the opportunity in the party’s favour by not capitalising issues such as the Saharanpur incident, deaths of children in Gorakhpur and the ongoing agitation by Shiksha Mitra, following the Supreme Court’s decision to cancel their appointment in the recent past, the SP could not capitalise on any of these incidents.
According to the party sources, there are possibilities of the Akhilesh and Shivpal Singh ending the cold war going between them. The source said that party Chief is waiting for the “Rashtriya Adhiveshan” (national convention) which is likely to be held in September. “The national convention will make the picture clear about SP’s preparation for the 2019 LS polls,” he said. He further added that “Akhileshji will be re-elected as national president and Mulayam Singhji is all set to become the patron of the party. It will help Akhileshji tighten his grip over the party. Mulayam Singhji may persuade Akhilesh to settle his differences with Shivpal and rebuild the party.”
If party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav accepts his position as patron, the rift in the Yadav family would automatically end, giving the strong boost that Samajwadi Party is badly in need of.