Jankranti Morcha of Jharkhand merges into SP
Mulayam Singh Yadav is all set to be re-elected as the party chief on the opening day of the three-day National Convention of the ruling Samajwadi Party which will kick off amidst much fanfare in the State Capital on Wednesday.
The party also received shot in the arm on the eve of their three-day show when Jankranti Morcha of Jharkhand, announced to merge into the SP on Tuesday. The leaders of Morcha met Akhilesh Yadav and shown their full faith in his and SP supremo Mulayam Singh’s leadership.
The city of Nawabs is wearing a festive look with red-green flags and hoardings of the ruling SP adorning the roads for the National Convention. Party leaders from outside the State and from other places have started arriving here. Being held in the city after 22 long years since the party’s inception, the meet comes at a critical juncture for the SP as it is being held exactly halfway into the Akhilesh Yadav Government’s five-year term.
It also follows the party’s rout in the lok Sabha polls earlier this year when it was reduced to a mere five MPs from its tally of 24 in 2009 in the face of a ‘Modi wave.’ Party spokesperson and State Minister Rajendra Choudhury told mediapersons here on Tuesday afternoon that the three-day convention would be started from Wednesday with Mulayam Singh Yadav hoisting the SP flag at the Janeshwar Mishra park, the venue of the meet. Mulayam will also unveil a 25-feet statue of Janeshwar Mishra there. Subsequently, the elections would be held for the party president who will address the convention.’’ The party will also discuss, the strategy for the next Assembly polls in 2017,’’ Rajendra Choudhury stated.
Choudhury said, at 3pm on the opening day, the political and economic resolution of the party would be tabled by party’s general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav and immediately, discussions would start. The discussion on the political and economic resolutions would continue on the next day and it will be adopted in the evening of Thursday. On the last day of the convention on Friday, open convention would start at 10am and after the address of the SP national president, the convention would end in the noon. The convention will also mark party’s foundation day celebrations as it turns 22 this October. It came into being in October 4,1992.
There is still speculation whether expelled SP leader Amar Singh have been invited for this convention. Singh had participated in the inaugural function of the Janeshwar Mishra park on the invitation from Mulayam. Several leaders of other political parties are also slated to join the SP during the convention. The ruling party has made five-star arrangements for around 10,000 participants as they will be served with sumptious Awadhi, South Indian and Punjabi cuisines. A 75,000-square feet waterproof pandal, a 40,000-watt line array sound system, 20,000 signboards and banners plastered all over lucknow are the highlights. An army of more than 1,000 workers is working round the clock to ensure arrangements are in place and on time. “We have got this all-weather 450 X 60 feet pandal for the convention events and another 500 X 100 feet weather proof pandal for serving food to the delegates over the three days,’’ Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Narad Rai disclosed here on Tuesday.