Former CM and Samajwadi Party boss Akhilesh Yadav is a worried man these days.
Threat of being marginalised in UP politics and diminished role in politics of secular grand alliance looms large on Yadav. Besides rapid political events like desertion of the secular camp by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and defection of two SP MlCs to the BJP, growing proximity of his `man Friday’ and SP general secretary Ram gopal Yadav with Prime Minister Narendra Modi have only added to his trouble.
This was indicated during a reception hosted by SP Rajya Sabha member Naresh Agarwal in Delhi in last week of July to honour senior colleague Ram Gopal Yadav for completing 25 years in Parliament, where Akhilesh was conspicuously absent despite being invited. So was SP patriarch Mulayam Singh. Sources close to the SP president maintained that he skipped the event for obvious political reason.
However, leaders cutting across party lines attended the reception. Political top gunslike Vice- president Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi took time out to be present at the do.
“`Mulayam Singh Yadav and his brother Shivpal Yadav are now clearly identified as allies of the ruling alliance at Delhi —the NDA. Both have publically voted for Ramnath Kovind, the NDA candidate for Presidential poll. Mulayam will again vote for the NDA candidate for Vice president’s election. Now Ram Gopal too is following the steps of his brothers and shifting his allegiance with the NDA. This could spell trouble for Samajwadi Party,’’ said a senior SP leader.
“Akhilesh Yadav rebelled against uncle Shivpal and heaped humiliation on his father Mulayam Singh by toppling him from the post of national president of SP. This was done on the political strength and advice of his uncle Ram Gopal. Akhilesh had put everything at stake only on the strength he drew from Ram Gopal. But the same man left Akhilesh in the lurch at the most critical moment of his political life and is playing footsie with PM Modi,’’ said the SP leader.
SP sources averred, “Akhilesh Yadav is now left with two options. One, he joins the bandwagon of his father and uncles or two, go soft on the BJP or adopt an neutral posture and pursue his own brand of `aggressive secularism’ like he has been pursuing for the last five years.’’
“When a veteran leader like Bihar CM Nitish Kumar could not withstand BJP’s growing pressure, can Akhilesh be expected to undertake mission impossible,” an SP MlA said.
The SP leader averred, “Time is fast running out and Akhilesh has to take the critical decision. If he takes the plunge, then he may emerge as a taller leader than his father and Nitish Kumar. The present state of inertia at the top echelons of SP has almost crippled the outfit. The SP MlAs boycotted the last leg of Budget session of the Assembly but we failed to create a new narrative and send a strong message to our electorate.’’