File photo of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav with wife, Dimple Yadav
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's wife and Samajwadi Party (SP) lawmaker Dimple Yadav has been asked to lead the party's campaign in the neighbouring state of Uttarakhand, according to local leaders. The proposal has been sent to the central leadership.
SP state unit president Satyanarayanan Sachan said, "We want Dimple to lead the party in Uttarakhand and bring it to power like in Uttar Pradesh."
Ms Yadav, who represents UP's Kannauj seat in Parliament, was born and brought up at Kodwal in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. According to Mr Sachan, SP's core committee has discussed the issue and party leaders including patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, are seriously considering the proposal.
Local leaders claim that the presence of a heavyweight leader like Ms Yadav will act as a morale boost for the party cadre. Mr Sachan said, "We have successfully made people understand that if SP is in power in both Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, it will benefit citizens on all fronts."
The party's fortunes have been on the downhill since the hill state was carved out from UP in 2000, as they were opposed to a separate state. SP has not managed to win a single seat in the past three assembly elections. Elections are due in the state next year.