Even as the Samajwadi Party embarked on its 'Mission 2017', directing leaders to connect with people, party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav once again expressed his annoyance over non-performing ministers, saying he would have sacked them by now. Addressing the party's newly-constituted state executive meeting here on Thursday, Yadav, who was invited as chief guest, said leaders were no longer connected with the masses.
"The leaders have failed to educate people about the development schemes being launched by the Akhilesh Yadav Government. Even ministers have failed to perform their duties," he said. The SP president also expressed his disappointment over some ministers facing corruption charges."If I had been the chief minister, I would have sacked these corrupt ministers. No corrupt minister would have survived in my government," he said, sending out a terse message to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who was also sitting on the dais.
Incidentally, on Wednesday, Yadav Senior had defended two ministers – Gayatri Prasad Prajapati and Mehboob Ali – who are facing corruption charges, saying there were only allegations against them. But in the closed-door meeting, he came down on the Cabinet of Ministers."I have information that some ministers do not go to the districts. They themselves do not know the welfare schemes launched by the Government. I know some of them are minting money. I have full information about them. I am giving them warning. They should mend their ways," he said.
Yadav Sr. also launched the party's 'Mission 2017' and asked the leaders to go to villages and apprise people of the development and welfare schemes launched by the state Government. "If you do not meet people now, how will you face them during the electionsIJ" he asked. "Mind you, communal forces like the Bharatiya Janata Party are spreading canard against the Government and the Samajwadi Party. We will have to take the 2017 elections seriously. No lapses will be tolerated. We will have to contest the next election as a well-oiled machine," he said.
The SP president was also critical of the defeat of the party during the lok Sabha election and said the SP leaders did not work to their potential."The people got swayed by the false promises of the communal party. This time we will counter their propaganda," he added. Chief Minister and state president of the party, Akhilesh Yadav, said that the party had started working in right earnest.
"You will have to counter the propaganda of the BJP and other political parties against us. You should be aware of the evil designs of the communal parties," he said, adding that the state Government was doing enough for all sections of society. Yadav Junior also warned the leaders to shun inner bickering and groupism as it would only weaken the party and give the Opposition an edge against the SP.
SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav said that indiscipline in the party had increased. "Many a times details of closed-door meetings have been disclosed to the media. Indiscipline would not be tolerated and any leader involved in any such incident would be taken to task," he said. The politico-economic resolution was presented by Arvind Singh Gope. It talked about the false promises made by the BJP during its lok Sabha election campaign and its attempt to divide society on communal lines.
The executive chalked out a detailed strategy to counter Narendra Modi effect and Hindutava agenda unleashed by BJP, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh and other saffron organisations. The resolution also highlighted development schemes launched by the Akhilesh Yadav Government for the welfare of all sections of society
During the meeting, attended by over 125 members, the party invited applications for the 36 Council seats from the local bodies, election for which is to be held in November.The party is also expected to invite within a week or two, applications from leaders who are interested in contesting the 2017 Assembly elections.