Shuru hone ko hai naya safarjawab dega Jaswant Nagar
(A new journey is about to start; the answer will come from Jaswant Nagar).
The couplet on a hoarding with pictures of Mulayam Singh Yadav and his younger brother Shivpal Singh Yadav raises eyebrows. What kind of “new” journey Shivpal is talking about and how come Jaswant Nagar will stand testimony to this new journey. Do these hoardings reflect Shivpal’s mindsetIJ Is he going to float a new party after Assembly electionsIJ Is he in a rebellious moodIJ
Questions are many and only one man can give answer: Shivpal himself. “A big battle lies ahead… I mean after election. That will be the battle for survival,” Shivpal told The Pioneer at Jaswant Nagar. “I stand by my supporters. These hoardings have been put up by my supporters. In democracy, you have to listen to people’s voice,” he said.
Another couplet talks about Shivpal’s sacrifice for the party:
Hur dum jale mashaal ki tarah;Koi jee ke dikhaye Shivpal ki tarah
The people in Jaswant Nagar are rooting for Shivpal, but the party’s support is not visible to that extent. In fact, people close to Prof Ram Gopal Yadav want Shivpal should lose election, while Shivpal’s supporters have already started saying that SP-Congress alliance is coming third. loyalists of Shivpal had come from far off places to ensure that he wins this election with a record margin. “We are not getting support from Akhilesh’s Samajwadi Party, but mantri ji (Shivpal) has his strong support base which would ensure his victory,” a SP loyalist said.
Jaswant Nagar, the Assembly constituency in Etawah, is the test case how Samajwadi Party leaders are working at cross purposes.
“Bhai sahib, mark my words, BSP will form the next Government. There is race between the BJP and the SP-Congress alliance as to who will come second. In this race the BJP will pip the alliance,” said a leader who was once spokesman of the SP but was sacked by Akhilesh.
Shivpal’s supporters had come from all the way from lucknow to Etawah to attend Mulayam’s rally in Jaswant Nagar in support for Shivpal. “Why should I say Akhilesh Yadav zindabadIJ I was sacked from the party post only because I am Shivpal’s loyalist. Yes, I am his man but I had never worked against the party. If Akhilesh did not trust me why should I have faith on him,” he said.
There were around 20 SP leaders, some of them from eastern Uttar Pradesh, who had come to support Shivpal. A leader from Deoria said that Akhilesh has neglected eastern UP. “He should not forget that it was eastern UP that infused life in the Samajwadi Party. Have people forgotten Ramkola kaand (scandal),” he said.
“We shepherd voters to polling booths. Now we will not do that. Do you think without support people will vote for SP candidates. Kabhi nahi (never),” he said.
There is a feeling in Jaswant Nagar that Prof Ram Gopal has started a whisper campaign against Shivpal. Even Shivpal is saying the same to voters in guarded words. “There is an attempt from within family to defeat me. Meri izzat aapke haath mein hai,” he said.
The fight within the family has started casting dark shadow on Yadav land. Mulayam Singh and Shivpal have refused to go outside Jaswant Nagar for electioneering. “It is unimaginable that Mulayam Singh will not canvass in Mainpuri, Etah Kannauj and Badaun, the region dominated by Yadavs. Without him how can SP win votes there,” asks Santosh Yadav, a SP supporter.
People talk in hushed voiced how Shivpal Singh Yadav is damaging the SP as he does not want SP-Congress alliance to form next the Government. Rebel SP candidate Ashish Rajput, who is contesting from Etawah city Assembly constituency on lok Dal ticket, shared dais with Mulayam and Shivpal Singh in Jaswant Nagar. Sitting SP legislators Raghuraj Shakya and Shukhdevi Ram, who have been denied tickets are actively campaigning for Shivpal.
“This is dharma yudh. Watch out for March 11. Ab to naya safar shuru hone ko hai,” Shivpal Singh said as his supporters shouted Shivpal Bhaiya zindabad.