Despondency has gripped the Samajwadi Party as formal split in the party is inching towards becoming a fait accompli. The Election Commission on Friday reserved its judgement on the petitions filed by the warring SP factions staking respective claims on the party and its election symbol.
Though there are usual rants of bravado from both Mulayam and Akhilesh camps, the contours of the real politik are gradually sinking in, particularly on those who are in the race of contesting elections and whose name figure in both lists announced by Mulayam Singh and Akhilesh Yadav.
The candidates of both camps concede that it is going to be difficult to face the electorate as the party will split after the announcement of the Assembly elections.
A senior leader from Mulayam camp said, “If the SP splits, the party will lose its brand equity as the party of plebian masses and minorities which fought for their cause since its very inception.’’
Senior leaders of the party who maintained a neutral stance in the feud so far and tried their best for reconciliation, are particularly worried as they can no longer be neutral and will have to choose one faction.
The split in the party would also lead to the party’s bank accounts to remain inoperative and neither faction would be able to use the funds for elections. On the application of the Akhilesh Yadav camp, all bank accounts of the party in Delhi, lucknow and Etawah have already been frozen.
A senior leader, whose son is also a candidate in the elections, is particularly worried and said that the intra-party feud is all set to destroy the political future of his son’.
Minority Affairs Minister Azam Khan, whose son is a candidate from Swar Tanda seat in Rampur is also in a quandary. Sources in the SP said that Khan along with his son is likely to opt for contesting the elections as independent candidates.
A leader of Akhilesh camp claimed, “No confusion, no mistake, Jai Akhilesh.’ He said that the narrative of development and the blessings of Netaji will help candidates to romp home during the elections.
He however conceded, “The CM faces a herculean task that of retaining traditional Yadav-Muslim votebank of the Samajwadi Pparty.’’
Cabinet Minister and key member of Team Akhilesh, Rajendra Chaudhary said, “Preparations are on for Assembly polls and the list of candidates will be announced soon. The party manifesto is in the process of being finalised and the CM will emerge victorious at the hustings as people have faith in his leadership.”
Former SP spokesman and a close associate of Shivpal Yadav, Deepak Mishra said, “It is certain that the party will formally split as soon as the EC verdict comes out. Creating a new organisational infrastructure in such short notice is impossible for both factions. The cadre still identify themselves with Mulayam Singh and Shivpal Yadav, as both groomed leadership at the grassroots in the last three decades.’’