Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav arrived to Ranchi on Wednesday to shore up prospects of the Samajwadi Party (SP) in the State. He will address a rally at Morhabadi on Thursday that would be the first by any big regional stalwart from UP in the State.
Nevertheless SP’s insignificant presence in the State politics thus far, members of the party are excited about a surprising future in the upcoming lok Sabha and Assembly polls. “Akhilesh ji has been the Tipu Sultan of Uttar Pradesh and coming here like the Great Sikandar (Alexander). After working for two years in the State so fantastically he is on the mission 2014 for the party. We see a good scope here and eying to field candidates in all the 14 lok Sabha seats in the State. We hope to spring surprises in at least three parliamentary constituencies,” said DG Raja, State Spokesperson of the Mulayam Singh Yadav-led party.
The party, primarily banking on the support of backward class and minority voters, is looking to tap those who vote for Independents in various constituencies of the State which have considerable number of OBC and Muslims electorates. “When people can vote for an Independent who has no political ideology and no agenda then why not for usIJ Samajwadi Party has a well established ideology of socialism and when the voters come to know about it we would definitely perform well here as well,” added Raja.
The party had in 2009 lok Sabha polls fielded candidates in three constituencies with no success. Haffizuddin Ansari (Dhanbad), Arjun Pujhar (Dumka) and Digambar Kumar Mehta (Hazaribag) contested the election. This apart, as many as 19 Samajwadi Party candidates had fancied their chances in the Assembly polls which happened the same year.
“We are gearing up for the upcoming polls. Though, much would also depend on the party supremo’s decision on joining the Third Front. Akhilesh ji would be focusing on political extremism that is on its peak in the State. He would also be stressing on good governance in his rally,” added Raja.
On the contentious issue of domicile, the party also made it clear that all those who were living here on and before the midnight of November 15, 2000 (when the State separated from Bihar) are the locals. The young Chief Minister may also touch upon this when he addresses handful of his partymen and supporters on Thursday.