LUCKNOW: Ending days of suspense, SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today flagged of his son, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's rath yatra with Shivpal Yadav in tow, seeking to project a united face after a bitter public power struggle that threatened to derail the party's Assembly poll campaign. The SP patriarch arrived at La Martinere grounds - the flag off venue - soon after Akhilesh reached there. Shivpal joined them moments later.
With all eyes on who all turned up at the grand event, Mulayam took a seat on the stage and was flanked by Shivpal on one side and Akhilesh on the other to drive home a message that the party was united ahead of the UP Assembly elections. "Akhilesh ko hum shubhkamna detey hain (I wish him well)," Shivpal said, adding the "vikas sey vijay ki aur yatra" will send a message of unity across the state and halt BJP in its tracks.
"Our target is to prevent BJP from coming to power in the state in the crucial 2017 elections," he said. Before embarking on the highly-publicised rath yatra to highlight the development works undertaken by him during the last over four years, the 43-year-old chief minister said, "I want to thank youths for this historic event...From this yatra, we appeal to people to vote in favour of our party."
On recent controversy within the party and family, Akhilesh said, "Due to some conspiracies we were affected a bit, but in the days to come we will be able to form government again."
The presence of Mulayam, Shivpal and Akhilesh on one platform came days after bitter acrimony in the Yadav clan that saw no holds barred tit-for-tat sackings and expulsions of followers of warring camps. Incidentally, the hi-tech customised rath broke down after barely one km journey forcing Akhilesh to shift to his official vehicle to resume his yatra.
"I am happy netaji, Shivpal all have come... more will join in due course," the chief minister said during his journey and hoped differences, if any, will disappear as the time of elections draws near. "I have the blessings of Azam Khan and I hope he will join me later in the yatra," he said in reply to a mediaperson's query, as the senior cabinet minister was conspicuous by his absence. Akhilesh said he was not aware any coalition move for the UP polls. Flagging off the bright red Mercedes Benz 'rath', Mulayam spoke about difference of opinion over naming of the 'vikas sey vijay ki aur yatra'.
"I had suggested Akhilesh to put 'vijay' first and 'vikas' after it. But he did not do that," he said. Addressing slogan-shouting youths, Mulayam said, "Slogans like Bhaiya jeevan tere naam" (life is for you brother) will not work and you have to "struggle". "The path of samajwad is difficult...I have faced lathis in agitations. This samajwadi movement is made after sacrifices. SP is party of sacrifice and struggle. I know when there is lathicharge, every one runs away and only 4-5 persons stay back," he said advising youths. "I congratulate Akhilesh for the yatra and wish him all success," he said. Shivpal said the "target" of the party was to form government again in 2017.
"We want to ensure that BJP should not form government and SP gets absolute majority once again," he said. The enthusiasm among the youth leaders was palpable right since early morning with hordes of young party workers donning red cap making a bee line to the venue, the very place where Akhilesh took oath as chief minister in 2012. As some youths jostled to reach the venue, Shivpal advised them to calm down. "Josh mein hosh na kho dein (don't lose your cool in enthusiasm)," he said.
Ahead of the flag off event, Ramgopal Yadav's son and MP Akshay Yadav said, "People will vote for Akhilesh. We will contest in his name and win." Brushing aside remarks that Akhilesh was a "trainee chief minister," his wife Dimple, a Lok Sabha member, said, "If a trainee can do so much work, you can imagine was he will do in his second term as a professional". Seeking to project a picture of unity, she said, "Need blessings from all party elders. Past events forgotten, we need to be together," she said.