As suspense continues over naming Uttar Pradesh’s new chief minister, sources said Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s son Akhilesh Yadav, credited with scripting the SP’s biggest-ever victory, is likely to be named CM.
A clamour within SP ranks to make Akhilesh Yadav CM was evident on Wednesday. It is learnt even his father, who had given Akhilesh a “free hand” to run the party in UP as state unit chief, now wants him to head the state government.
The decision is expected to be formalised on Saturday, when the SP’s newly-elected MLAs meet in Lucknow to elect their leader. The swearing-in ceremony is likely to take place on March 11 or 12.
Akhilesh Yadav has so far been insisting that “Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) will be CM”. It is learnt, however, that large sections of the SP leadership was Generation Next to take charge of the party and lead it in the state.
The SP parliamentary board met in Lucknow Wednesday morning and congratulated Akhilesh Yadav for his efforts in leading the party to a landslide victory. Senior SP leader Azam Khan did not attend the meeting, and parried all questions when asked about his absence. Sources say he is upset over Akhilesh Yadav being projected as CM. “Till date the party has left all major decisions to Mulayam Singh; there is no reason to rake up an unnecessary controversy at this point,” he said.
A Samajwadi youth leader said Akhilesh represented the aspirations of young people, and since he had led the party to victory they wanted to see him become CM.
On Wednesday evening both Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav called on UP governor B.L. Joshi to exchange Holi greetings. Mr Mulayam Yadav is believed to have told the governor about the SP MLAs’ meeting on March 10.
Buoyed by the SP’s biggest-ever victory, the entire Yadav clan is scheduled to celebrate Holi at Sefai, their native village in Etawah district, and plan to return to Lucknow on Friday.