The warmth among members of Samajwadi Party’s first family evaporated in the winter chill as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday released his own list of 235 candidates for the UP Assembly election after his father and SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav denied tickets to his loyalists, including three Ministers, in the first list of 325 candidates released on Wednesday.
Though the 235 candidates list of Akhilesh was not issued officially and it was put in the public domain through social media, the act has put the future of the Samajwadi Party at stake. Of the candidates list reportedly issued by the CM’s camp, 171 are sitting SP MlAs.
The list of names was made available on social media by party MlAs who failed to get a ticket in the official list on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, putting to test his popularity and support base among the party cadre, the CM asked his supporters to go to their constituencies and contest the polls on different symbols.
“We have been asked to contest election as talks with Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) have failed. We are ‘Akhileshwadi’ and will contest the election on the name of Bhaiya (Akhilesh). I will return to the Assembly — that’s my promise,” said Forest Minister Pawan Pandey.
He is among three Ministers, including Arvind Singh Gope and Ram Gobind Chaudhary. Pandey, a known Akhilesh loyalist, was expelled for roughing up a SP leader.
Pandey said Akhilesh Yadav might release a separate list of over 160 candidates. “Wait for the next scene of this political drama — it will unfold very soon,” he quipped outside the CM’s official residence at 5, Kalidas Marg.
Akhilesh, who has so far tried to avert a crisis in the party by even playing second fiddle to his uncle Shivpal Yadav on some occasions, was forced to take this rebellious stand after his long parley with Mulayam Singh and Shivpal ended in an impasse.
SP MlA Udayveer Singh Yadav said that the CM was preparing for a long political battle. He also did not rule out the involvement of Amar Singh behind the rejection of tickets to Akhilesh supporters.
The high voltage drama in lucknow found its echo in Moradabad where Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha president Vikas Yadav announced the cancellation of a Rath yatra in support of Akhilesh.
Earlier, there were reports that Mulayam could accommodate a couple of Ministers, who were denied ticket, but later the SP chief conveyed to his son that there was no question of any ‘reconsideration’ of the names.
The trio of Mulayam-Akhilesh-Shivpal Yadav had a closed-door meeting at which lasted for an hour. Akhilesh reportedly pleaded his father to accommodate some of candidates who were denied tickets.
Sources claim that Akhilesh specifically batted for two Ministers, Ram Govind Chaudhury and Arvind Singh Gope. But Mulayam, after consultation with Shivpal Yadav, spiked the CM’s suggestions. “Mulayam showed Akhilesh survey reports that these two had lost popularity. Mulayam told Akhilesh that no changes could be made at this time,” the source said.
With no option left Akhilesh is getting ready for a final battle.
The crisis in the party escalated after the release of candidates’ list on Wednesday where close confidantes of Shivpal were given prominence at the cost of Akhilesh’s loyalist. Reports suggest that of the 325 candidates announced, 162 were handpicked by Shivpal Yadav.
On Thursday morning, Akhilesh held a meeting with party MlAs and senior Ministers at his official residence. Around 50 MlAs and Ministers like Arvind Singh Gope, Abhishek Mishra, Ahmad Hasan, Balram Singh Yadav, Tej Narain Panday, alias Pawan Pandey, Shivakant Ojha and Rajendra Chaudhry took part in the meeting.
“I have never asked for ticket from Mulayam Singh. Every time, he himself fielded me in polls. This is first time that he denied a ticket to me. I will ensure that Akhilesh becomes Chief Minister of UP once again,” Chaudhry reportedly said in that meeting.
As per sources, the CM gave a patient hearing to the leaders and assured them that he would try to convince Mulayam to reconsider his decision.
Meanwhile, Akhilesh supporters continued to raise slogans in his support outside the CM’s residence throughout the day.
“The family should bury the hatchet and present a united face. This show of disunity at the threshold of elections does not augur well for the party,” said SP supporter from Bareilly Zarina Bano as workers shouted ‘Akhlesh tum sangharsh karo, hum tomahre saath hain’.