Mr Akhilesh Yadav may be the UP chief minister and also the state president of the Samajwadi Party but his doting father Mulayam Singh Yadav is not taking any chances when it comes to making crucial decisions.
The Samajwadi Party president has decided to convene a meeting of the parliamentary board of the party this week to finalise the names of party leaders who are to be appointed chairpersons and heads of various corporations, commissions and boards.
Normally, it is the chief minister who takes the final decision in such matters.
“Mr Akhilesh Yadav, besides being chief minister and state president, is also a member of the parliamentary board and decisions will be taken in his presence and with his consent so there is no question of sidelining him. Besides we want that crucial decisions should be taken with in consultation with the senior party leader,” said an aide of the chief minister.
According to SP sources, the party wants that only those leaders should be accommodated in corporations and boards who are not likely to contest the next Lok Sabha elections. A large number of party leaders will be included in the party organisation which is being revamped.
“The party has turned into a huge organisation and we will have to follow the ‘one-man, one-job’ formula to ensure that everyone gets something. Those who are likely to get Lok Sabha tickets will be asked to concentrate on building up their constituency while other hard working and dedicated party workers will get posts in corporations and boards,” said a senior party functionary.
Since almost all senior party leaders have been included in the council of ministers, the party may give a change to youth leaders in boards and corporations, which usually gives one the status of a state minister.
Hectic lobbying, meanwhile, has begun within the Samajwadi Party for these posts and party leaders are having a tough time dealing with party workers.
“It is getting difficult for the leader to work in a relaxed manner because we have party workers knocking at our doors from 6 in the morning. At times, the minister has been forced to use the back door exit to avoid the pressure,” said the personal secretary of a senior SP minister.