Amid talks of a grand alliance, confusion reigns within Samajwadi Party. While oldies advocate the need to have a pact, the young Turks want the party to go alone in the battle of ballots showcasing the government’s achievements.
“Why should we have an alliance. look at our report card. Ours is a government that has come up with result. We should go to the people showcasing our achievements,” young leaders thronging Janeshwar Mishra Trust said on Monday.
Incidentally, these are the leaders who are part of ‘Team Akhilesh’ and have been expelled from the party for showing `indecency’ by protesting outside party office.
“If leaders are advocating that the SP should go for alliance, it means they are conceding that we are skating on thin ice. Ask any one on the street, he will say that Akhilesh Yadav has performed. Even our political rivals do admit it. When we are on firm footing why should we go for an alliance,” an expelled MlC said.
While members of Team Akhilesh were having this conversation with ‘The Pioneer’, Akhilesh Yadav was holding a meeting with Congress poll strategist Prashant Kishor aka PK at his official residence. As the news filtered out about PK’s visit, the young Turks said: “Bhaiya should say no to any truck.”
On the other hand, party veterans said that all secularforces should unite to stop the march of ‘communal forces’.
“The merger of QED with the SP is a step forward in this direction. Senior leaders of Janata Dal (U), RlD, RJD and Janata Dal (S) have met Mulayam Singh Yadav during the party’s silver jubilee function thus keeping the door open for a possible pact,” a senior leader said.
“The party will gain only if we stand united. The division of votes will help the BJP. We will have replicate the Bihar formula in Uttar Pradesh,” he said.
The confusion in the party is because there is no clarity on the issue from the party brass. Neither Shivpal Yadav camp nor Akhilesh Yadav camp have got any indication about the future course of action. The party has also not decided on withdrawal of expelled leaders.
Though two big programmes of the party have ended, supporters from both sides were still looking up to their leaders for future programmes.
A party leader, close to Akhilesh Yadav, said that after the November 5 silver jubilee function, there was no message from the party brass on what the cadres should do now.
“There is no official programme for the Rath Yatra, to be taken out by the CM though unconfirmed reports say that the CM will start his Yatra from November 9,” he said.