This Article is From Mar 07, 2012

Mulayam meets Governor; some in party want Akhilesh as Chief Minister

Mulayam meets Governor; some in party want Akhilesh as Chief Minister
Lucknow: Akhilesh Yadav, the man who turned UP into a field of dreams for his Samajwadi Party, was received at his party's headquarters today with the cheers and sea of outstretched hands reserved for a winner.

The Samajwadi Party's top leaders met this morning to discuss their plans to formally stake claim and form the new government. They won 224 of the state's 403 seats, a victory so sound that they need no partners or support.

Mulayam Singh Yadav, with Akhilesh,  is meeting UP Governor BL Joshi now at the Raj Bhawan in Lucknow..

Mayawati, who was routed, winning less than half the seats she did last time, has made way for them; she presented her resignation to the Governor this morning. She said that with the takeover by the Samajwadi Party, she awaits law and order problems and the reversal of progressive reforms that she introduced.

Among the challenges for the new government will be fighting the Samajwadi Party's reputation for shielding criminals within and outside its ranks. At today's meeting, leaders said party members will be barred from recommending postings or transfers of bureaucrats; all assignments will be based on merit. In UP, politicians regularly reward or punish officials through arbitrary job placement. The party has also said it will make it clear that no goonda-giri or hooliganism will be tolerated. That assertion comes after party workers assaulted reporters in Jhansi yesterday to stop them from questioning a candidate who was losing his election.  The reporters spent six hours locked in a room, as Samajwadi workers waited outside, with threats of more violence. The police refused to intervene. It took a message from Akhilesh Yadav to end the hostage crisis.

Whether his unquestioned leadership of his party will make him chief minister will be decided after three days, said Samajwadi leaders. Through yesterday, the Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh insisted that his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, 72, will head the government. This term will be his fourth in office. Privately, though, the party continues to debate whether it's 38-year-old Akhilesh who should head the government. It was his energy and raw appeal among the youth of the state that helped script the party's success story. Seen riding his party symbol, the cycle, wearing a red cap, he was very much the face of the campaign.

Many believe that those who voted for the Samajwadi Party voted for him; and that there will be anger and disappointment if he does not lead the state. The spectacular victory of the Samajwadi Party yesterday means that its leaders will now look at the general elections of 2014 with renewed vigour and interest. That means Mulayam may need to focus on strategy and the bigger picture. If his son runs the state, some say, he will be free to work on those plans.

But older factions within the party believe Akhilesh may be too young to handle a state that is riddled with complex caste equations, and has much to overcome - crime, poverty, illiteracy, malnutrition and ubiquitous corruption. Akhilesh said yesterday that his father's experience, political wisdom and statesmanship was what UP needed at this hour. Akhilesh, say some Samjawadi sources, will also need to emulate his father's effective management style of the party cadres.  As the Congress, who placed a dismal fourth in the election has learnt, grassroots workers can swing a party's fortunes.

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