With an eye on the 2017 Assembly elections Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has asked Samajwadi Party workers to woo the youths of the state as they would be the deciding factor in the next elections. ''As per the record of the Election Commission, youths in the age bracket of 24-25 years would hold key to the 2017 Assembly polls. They would be the biggest voting segment and party should target them,” he said while inaugurating a two-day photo exhibition of Samajwadi Party Yatra and UP’s march towards development at his official residence here on Sunday.
He said that it would be better for the party if it starts setting its target, and the youth are surely part of Samajwadi Party’s future vision. The party activists should target the youths for the next Assembly polls from now, Yadav said. The photo exhibition was inaugurated on the eve of the 105th birth anniversary of socialist ideologue Ram Mahohar lohia, The exhibition comprised pictures taken by two renowned photographers Pankaj Ohri and Ashfaq Ahmad.
CM said that his government has focussed its attention on the development of the state with youth being the fulcrum. In all our projects youths are being given priority. Be it construction of roads or improvement in power generation or inviting investors to put up their industries in Uttar Pradesh all our policies are aimed at uplifting youth,” Yadav who is also state president of the party said.
''The party has always cared for the youth because the principle of socialism is based on development of youth. Our ideology says if youths progress the state will progress and if state progresses the country will progress,” he said. However, the CM was peeved at lesser number of photographs depicting struggle of the Samajwadi Party in the exhibition. The exhibition showcased several rare and old photographs of party president Mulayam Singh Yadav. Besides it also had new pictures of Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The exhibition also shows the development of the state besides. It has also rated the district on their developmental performance. On this occasion he also dedicated a book written by Kunwar Harshit Rajveer on Samajwadi Kranri ke Janak Dr lohia aur Yuva Shakti. This book will highlight lohiaji’s contribution towards uniting youth power in nation building. He also assured mountaineer Ravi Kumar of all government help in his future expeditions. State PWD Minister Shiv Pal Singh Yadav also addressed the function.