A day before the party’s state convention, Samajwadi Party leader Israr Ullah Siddique announced to contest the election for the post of state president.
This caused considerrable embarrassment to the party brass who had decided to continue Naresh Uttam on the post. But they do not want to be portrayed as a party denying the aspiration of a Muslim leader either.
Special invitee member of the state executive of SP, Israr Ullah Siddique wrote to party president Akhilesh Yadav demanding the announcement of state chief election so that he could file his nomination.
Siddui further wrote that the party has not announced any programme for the said election and for strengthening the democratic values in SP, it was necessary that the state chief be elected through a transparent and democratic process instead of nomination.
“SP launched a successful membership drive in April this year where over a crore new members were enrolled. If all party office bearers are elected through democratic process, it will not only give an opportunity to the new members to effectively participate in party activities, but it would also boost their morale,’’ said the SP leader.
“It’s my earnest desire to contest the election of state president of SP. I seek the intervention of SP national president and announce a programme for the election schedule so that I can file my nominations,” he said.
The SP will elect its new state president for five years on Saturday with Akhilesh Yadav set to become the national president during its national convention in Agra on October 5. The party has also amended its constitution and enhanced the tenure of state and national president from three years to five years.