Samajwadi Party will celebrate its silver jubilee in lucknow on November 5 and tainted cabinet minister Gyatri Prajapati will be the convenor of the celebrations.
Addressing media persons on Friday, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav appealed to all MlAs, ministers and party cadres to work hard for the success of the silver jubilee celebrations. The celebrations are seen in the party as an attempt by old guards to consolidate their hold over the party.
``In 1992, when I set up the party then the English media and political leaders dubbed me as a leader of three districts of UP. Within the next 11 months, Samajwadi Party came to power in 1993 and I became the CM for the second time. In the last 25 years, we formed the government four times in UP and I became the Defence minister. Besides, the party gave voice to teeming millions of the plaebian class. Many who never aspired for anything became MlAs, MPs and ministers for the first time in their lives,’’ recalled Mulayam Singh.
Praising tainted minister Gayatri Prajapati, who was sacked on corruption charges by CM Akhilesh Yadav on September 12 and latertaken back, the SP chief said, “look at Gayatri Prajapati. He was not only elected as MlA, he became a minister and now an influential leader and touring the state for strengthening the party.’’
Defending the control of his family over the party, Mulayam said, ``Its true that all five lok Sabha members of the SP are from one family. But the people trusts the family. Other parties will have to ponder as to how this party covered such a long distance in UP politics in the last 25 years.’’
Claiming credit for the party’s success, the SP chief said, “The party has attained its current position because of me. In the 90’s, I had asked Jyoti Basu to take over as the PM but he declined and proposed my name instead. But one leader ( lalo Prasad Yadav), who is now my relative, opposed him bitterly and thus Devegowda became the PM.’’
Mulayam Singh however refused to comment on the issue of Triple Talaq and the questionnaire circulated by law Commission of India to leaders of different communities on Uniform Civil Code.
The SP chief also parried questions on whether expelled leaders of the party including MlCs and heads of youth outfits will be taken back.