Fresh from a landslide victory in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday spoke of the possibility of a mid-term election next year. The Congress, however, claimed that such a possibility was “remote”.
Speaking at a function in Lucknow, Mr Mulayam Yadav said the Lok Sabha elections could be held “anytime” after a year from now. He urged SP workers to be “fully prepared for an early election”.
He also directed his son, UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, to implement the party manifesto at the earliest, and said “visible changes” should be seen within six months.
Akhilesh sat beside his father: this was the first public function where he as CM shared the dais with his father and party chief.
Sources disclosed that the SP leadership was of the opinion that an early poll would electorally help the party, which virtually wiped out its political rivals in the recently concluded Assembly elections.
A mid-term poll, the party feels, would boost its strength in the Lok Sabha, which eventually could give the outfit a key role in planning or formation of a possible third front, sources said.
The SP also took a “conscious decision” not to join the UPA government at the Centre.