Akhilesh is now free from his uncle Shivpal, who had a strong hold on the Government. Now, he is not a challenge for Akhilesh’s power and leadership. In the same manner, Ram Gopal is not in a position to interfere anymore. Azam Khan and Amar Singh have also been pushed to the margins
Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav spent a major part of his tenure trying to get rid of his uncles. He even said he was only half CM, in fact some didn’t even consider him that. His uncles — Shivpal Singh Yadav, Ram Gopal Yadav — along with Azam Khan always interfered in the working of the Government. Not only this, his father Mulayam was in reality the ‘super CM’.
However, it seems that as Akhilesh’s tenure comes to an end, he has managed to come out of his family’s shadow. Now it can’t be said whether this is Mulayam’s well-thought-out plan or it is spontaneous. However, Akhilesh is now free from his uncle Shivpal, who had a strong hold on the Government. Now, he is not a challenge for Akhilesh’s power and leadership. In the same manner, Ram Gopal is not in a position to interfere anymore. Azam and Amar Singh have also been pushed to the margins.
Some say Mulayam had prepared a strategy for 2022. He had an idea that if the Samajwadi Party would be defeated, then there would be a fight for leadership. In that case, these four leaders would have posed the greatest challenge for Akhilesh. It is also being said that Mulayam deliberately wanted to take Akhilesh out of the shadow of these four leaders. So, he allowed the infighting to increase and ensured Akhilesh emerged as the tallest leader of the party.
AllIANCE SCENARIO HOTS UP
Some time ago, people were thinking that there would be no alliance in UP. But all of a sudden, alliances are being discussed left, right, and centre. leaders of the SP are trying their best to forge an alliance. On the other hand, the BSP — which has kept itself away from pre-poll alliances till date — is also pondering over tie-up opportunities. Sources say the BSP and SP leaders are in close contact.
However, the alliance scenario has increased the value and importance of the Congress and RlD. Congress leaders are having talks with both factions of the SP. Dikshit, the CM candidate of the Congress in UP, has advised the party to go with Akhilesh, while many MlAs want to go into an alliance with the other SP faction. It is said that the Congress is going to impose a condition that an alliance will be possible only when Akhilesh is in the party.
As leaders of the Congress are seemingly in touch with both factions of the SP, and the BSP, RlD leaders are also in contact with them. Seeing the political development in UP, Amit Shah has returned to Delhi from his Gujarat tour. People are saying that the BJP will try to stop a grand alliance at all costs. For this, the party might even talk to Ajit Singh.
MUlAYAM’S GAME PlAN
The million dollar question is does Mulayam really want to go into an alliance in UPIJ This is being asked because both kshatrapas of the State — Mayawati and Mulayam — usually don’t go into pre-poll alliances. Not only this, the SP has 229 MlAs and it has declared its candidates on more than 100 seats. In this case, if Mulayam goes into an alliance, will he be able to leave the required seats for his partnerIJ
In Bihar, an alliance would not have been possible if Nitish Kumar wouldn’t have made the sacrifice. He had 116 MlAs, but he agreed to fight on 100 seats only; he even left many sitting seats for the RJD. Will the SP leaders be ready to make such a sacrificeIJ The question is valid as the SP will have to leave some seats for the RlD and Congress in Western UP, and for Nitish in Purvanchal.
That is why the leaders, who are trying for a tie-up, are apprehensive. They say that Mulayam has backtracked from the talks of alliance earlier too. When Mamata Banerjee had proposed a federal front, it was Mulayam who took a step back, and the merger of the Janata family could not take shape due to him. So, there is a chance that this time too, he is only talking about an alliance till the family feud ends.
METICUlOUS PlANNING
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Dussehra in UP and Diwali in Himachal Pradesh. After this, there is speculation that he will bring in the New Year in Goa. Before that, the PM might be present in UP on Christmas, which also happens to be the birthday of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Some say for the past two years, Modi and Amit Shah have been meticulously deciding their schedules keeping in mind the States where elections are scheduled. last year, when elections were to be held in Bihar, the PM’s focus was on the State. Shah had visited Jayaprakash Narayan’s village on his birth anniversary. Modi had also taken part in a programme organised to commemorate the birth anniversary of JP, where he had felicitated those who had been sent to jail during the Emergency under MISA.
Now, the Congress is alleging that the PM is usurping the legacy of Sardar Patel because this year the Government’s focus is on him. Next year, elections are scheduled in UP and Gujarat, and Patel’s name can prove beneficial for the party.
VIRBHADRA CHANGES TACK
It seems that in Himachal Pradesh, Virbhadra Singh will lead the Congress in the next elections. Though this is also true that some days ago, he had announced that he would not fight the next elections. But after the raids of the CBI, ED and IT, he is not sticking to the idea of leaving active politics. His supporters feel that after the raids, Virbhadra has got the sympathy of people, and the Congress can cash in on that.
That is why it is being said that he has briefed the Congress high command that he will not resign despite the CBI chargesheet against him. Normally, leaders resign in case any chargesheet is filed against them, but Virbhadra has argued that there is no legal binding of resignation. Filing of a chargesheet doesn’t mean that the person is guilty. This must be noted that he is facing investigation in disproportionate asset and corruption cases.
Sources say that the Congress is thinking of using a new face in place of 82-year-old Virbhadra. Anand Sharma, the party leader in Rajya Sabha, is the most probable contender. It was being said that if Virbhadra resigns, Anand Sharma can be given the charge. But it doesn’t seem like Virbhadra is in a mood to give up at any cost.
STAlWART POlITICS AT PlAY
There is politics over the names of stalwarts of the freedom struggle and other great leaders. last month, there was unprecedented controversy over the death/birth anniversaries of great leaders. On October 2, many leaders remembered lal Bahadur Shastri more than Mahatma Gandhi. The Government also gave advertisements for both leaders together. Earlier, the ratio used to be 10:1 for the advertisements of Gandhi and Shastri. At that time also, many leaders alleged that the BJP is trying to usurp the legacy of Shastri.
In the same manner, there was controversy over the death anniversary of Indira Gandhi, and the birth anniversary of Sardar Patel on October 31. The focus of the Government was on Patel’s birth anniversary. Many programmes were organised in Delhi. Prime Minister Modi paid homage to Patel at Patel Chowk in Delhi and then participated in the run for unity.
On the other hand, there was not even a single Government function on the name of Indira, and the Congress was quick to make an issue out of this. It reiterated that Indira was the PM and the Government can’t discriminate due to party differences. The Congress organised many functions for Indira.
The Congress is also planning several programmes on the birth anniversary of Indira on November 19, including a centenary function. It is being said that on this day, the Congress may put forward Priyanka Vadra, keeping in mind the upcoming UP elections.