UP Polls: Can Mulayam's Son Do the Trick for Samajwadi Party?
Faisal Fareed
Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow
Lucknow, Jan 23: When Mulayam Singh Yadav took the plunge into politics and met the great farmer leader and former Prime Minister of India, Chaudhary Charan Singh for the first time, he had remarked: "He is short in height but will go a long way in politics".
Mulayam justified Charan Singh's remark by becoming the chief minister of UP thrice and also defence minister of the country.
Known among his friends circle as a man with a large heart, Mulayam single-handedly contested many political battles. In between he was branded as backward who was against computers and English and even as 'Maulana Mulayam'.
However, much water has flown in the river Ganga since then and in 2012 Mulayam is now contesting the most crucial elections of his political career. At 72 years of age, he has to pass the baton to his son Akhilesh Yadav and also once again aspire for the dream job of Prime Minister.
What will happen will be clear only on March 6 when EVMs are counted. However, a closer look reveals that Mulayam's Samajwadi Party (SP) too has to remain relevant in the Hindi heartland's politics.
In 2007, SP handed over power to Mayawati. It had won 97 MLAs then and lost power. People still recall the anarchy and goodaism widely prevalent during his previous tenure. A CO rank official was mowed down by SP workers and the poor police officer just clinged to the bonnet of the car to save his life.
After losing power, Mulayam faced another election in 2009 Lok Sabha. He won 22 seats, much lesser than his previous tally. He had committed the blunder of his lifetime. He inducted estranged Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Kalyan Singh in his party. Kalyan is regarded as a pariah among Muslims who are his base voters. The result was evident, Mulayam's daughter-in-law Dimple Yadav lost to Raj Babbar from Ferozabad in bypolls.
The writing on the wall was clear. He had to give way to his son Akhilesh Yadav. The young Akhilesh took over the stage. Two major decision were taken by the party (read: Akhilesh) - first, Mulayam disowned Kalyan Singh and tendered an apology to Muslims. And secondly, the face of SP - Amar Singh - who was calling the shots in the
party was shown the door.
The result was evident. Within weeks old loyalists of Mulayam started returning to his partyfold. The first was fire brand Azam Khan who had parted ways. The party was slowly built by Akhilesh in one-and-a-half years to get out from the shadow of Amar Singh.
Who was Amar Singh and what was his importance to SP and Mulayam?
The Samajwadi Party is basically a rural background party drawing its support mainly from Yadavs and Muslims in UP. Amar Singh ushered in a culture of bollywood, corporate bigwigs and five-star tendency. The party was run by suitcase carrying people while the old loyalists were sidelined. People in Lucknow used to remark that Mulayam had forgotten his socialist background.
Akhilesh was clever enough to read the message. Amar Singh was shown the door. Things were ruffled but finally settled.
Elections came in 2012 - Akhilesh took over the reins of campaigning. Now for the first time SP's campaign is covered by a professional Goldmine Advertising Company in Mumbai. Akhilesh hopped on a hi-tech Samajwadi Kranti Rath and covered thousands of kilometres across the state. He even switched to chopper and cycle during his campaign.
The best in store was when the party released its manifesto. Shedding its rustic anti-computer image, it promised laptops for every class XII student and a tablet for every class X student.
The party also vigorously brandished the Muslim reservation issue claiming that they will be given reservation in proportion to their population.
A strict no entry to mafia D P Yadav and even cutting to size senior leader Mohan Singh for disobeying Akhilesh firmly put him in the driver's seat.
As the polling day approaches, the old socialist party which was conceived after many forms in 1992 as Samajwadi Party (SP) is now fighting rejuvenated in a new role, new leader and new expectations.
Countdown to UP Polls: