This Article is From Mar 07, 2012

Yadavs meet Governor amid surging demand for Akhilesh as chief minister

Lucknow: Amid furious debate over which of them will take over as chief minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son, Akhilesh, met with Uttar Pradesh's Governor BN Joshi this evening.  They staked their claim to form the new government  - with  224 of the state's 403 seats, they need no partners or support.

Akhilesh, who turned UP into a field of dreams for his Samajwadi Party, reiterated today that "netaji" as his father is referred to, will be chief minister. But within the party, there is a surging demand for  the 39-year-old to be the head of the government. A decision will be shared after Holi, most likely on March 10, said party sources today. The new chief minister will be sworn in most likely on Monday.

One of the Samajwadi Party's senior-most leaders, Azam Khan, who is also the party's Muslim face, has not openly endorsed Akhilesh as chief minister. Sources say Mulayam will use the next three days to win consensus, crucial for conveying that the party believes in democracy on internal matters.

"A majority of MLAs are in favour of making Akhilesh the next CM. At the meeting of legislators, they will put in their views on the issue," party national General Secretary Naresh Agarwal told PTI.

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 the 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 39-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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