HARIDWAR, 16 October 2006 — Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav concluded his party’s two-day national executive meeting here yesterday by virtually kicking off his party’s poll campaign for assembly elections in UP and Uttaranchal and the next parliamentary polls.
With the two states going to polls next year, while Mulayam hopes to return to power in UP, he is also keen to defeat ruling Congress in Uttaranchal. Regarding Parliamentary polls, Mulayam has already begun talking actively of forming a third front, without both the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Urging voters to ensure a thumping victory for the SP in the assembly polls, while addressing a rally here yesterday, Mulayam said: “This is a challenge before you. Accept it boldly and fight to the finish.” Lashing out at the Congress for its “wrong policies,” Mulayam promised all-round development in UP as well as Uttaranchal. Dismissing prospects of the Congress toppling his government from power in UP, Mulayam said: “Is it possible to form a government with 14 MLAs? Mummy, beta, beti sab lage hai (Mother Sonia Gandhi, son- Rahul and daughter Priyanka are all active).” Criticizing the Congress for having neither a base nor ideology, he said: “The Congress base has shrunk not only in the state but all over the country.” Like the BJP, the Congress too has lost its moorings in UP, he said.
During the two-day meeting, chaired by Mulayam, senior party leaders including Amar Singh, Janeshwar Mishra, Ramgopal Yadav, Shahid Siddiqui and others participated in chalking out their political strategy.
While strongly criticizing the economic policies of the Congress-led central government, Mulayam and his party members talked about inflation, unemployment and the plight of farmers to convince the voters. Regarding the positive aspects of his government, Mulayam highlighted different welfare measures pursued by it, including education of girl child, poverty eradication and welfare of farmers.
Even if the Congress campaign is led by Rahul, as his party has done a lot to transform UP into “Uttam (excellent) Pradesh,” nothing can stop SP from returning to power here, Mulayam said.
Of late, while George Fernandes (Janata Dal-United) of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance bloc has displayed willingness to campaign for SP in UP, it still is not clear whether this would actually help Mulayam politically. As Fernandes has not yet parted ways with NDA, his campaign for SP is likely to be projected by Congress as a sign of Mulayam keeping friends in NDA circles.
