A war of accession seems to have started in the Samajwadi Party with a group of party workers saying SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav’s younger son Prateek Yadav should be fielded from the Azamgarh Lok Sabha seat.
The Samajwadi Party had already said UP minister Balram Yadav will be its Azamgarh candidate, but for the past two days some party workers from Azamgarh have demanded that Prateek should replace Balram Yadav. These groups are shouting pro-Prateek slogans at the party state headquarters and holding demonstrations, mainly for the TV cameras.
Ram Singar Yadav, a village pradhan from Azamgarh in the group seeking Prateek’s debut, said: “Azamgarh is a backward district, but people are confident Prateek Yadav can change its face. We need young people to lead us, and Prateek Yadav is the right choice.” This group is careful, though, not to speak against Balram Yadav, one of Samajwadi Party’s seniormost leaders.
SP leaders remain tightlipped on this matter. “We don’t know on what strength these people are demanding Prateek should contest from Azamgarh. We cannot utter a word unless Mulayam Singh gives his opinion. It’s a sensitive matter and no one wants to get caught in the crossfire,” said a senior SP minister.