ANALYSIS. Why Akhilesh still stands tall

His father and uncle may be intent on pushing him out of the high office in Uttar Pradesh, but Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav emerged as the most credible face to lead the Samajwadi Party (SP) after the day-long family drama at an important party meeting in Lucknow on Monday.

Although Mulayam’s efforts to broker yet another truce between his rebellious son and brother seem to have failed and Shivpal wants Akhilesh removed, the latter has decidedly gained both sympathy and support among the party brass and the people by his conduct and choice of aides. Mulayam and Shivpal were seen siding with the likes of Amar Singh, while Akhilesh was perceived to be battling the old guard and corruption from within.

Besides the fact that Mulayam did not expel Akhilesh and that he still enjoys the support of a majority of SP legislators, the young CM has also consolidated his position as someone who wants to clean house and establish a new order.

“The young people in the party are with him. There is no other way before Mulayam Singh Yadav than making it clear that Akhilesh Yadav will lead the party and the government in the upcoming elections,” a senior SP leader of SP told BusinessLine requesting anonymity.

He added that Mulayam had consulted a host of leaders in the party during the day. “Except two or three leaders, almost everyone with whom he held discussions said the right decision will be to announce that the Chief Minister will lead the party,” the leader added.

A section within the party, however, feels that it was wrong of the Akhilesh camp to drag the issues within the family before the public. “Mulayam apparently has some health issues. Some members of his family and some outsiders are using this to create enmity between father and son. This will be settled once the family sits together and sorts out the issues, away from the ‘pressure’ created by lobbyists and people with vested interests,” the senior leader added.

Though Akhilesh has created his own constituency cutting across caste and religious affiliations, it was widely believed that the party was still controlled by his father and uncle.

On Monday, however, Akhilesh proved that his stand also carries the same weight as that of his father’s when a decision is taken within the party. Reports that he weeped during the meeting and the open challenge put by Shivpal Yadav soon after swung the balance in Akhilesh’s favour. “Let Mulayam install a chief minister who he feels is honest. All these years, I had toiled hard for the welfare of the people. Merey pita, merey guru hain (My father is my guru),” he had reportedly said.

The silver jubilee of SP is also being celebrated on November 5, in which socialists from various streams are supposed to attend. Party insiders, however, believe the damage is now beyond control as even giving full control to Akhilesh may not save the party.

“Akhilesh has been voicing his displeasure against the forces within who damaged the image of his administration. Now people have understood who is behind these controversies. They are acting on the behest of our political opponents,” the leader added.

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