Dimple Yadav may be one of the star campaigners of the Samajwadi Party, but it's unlikely that she will address rallies and do road shows independently. Courtesy: a highly “protective” Akhilesh Yadav.
Speculation was rife within media that Dimple would most likely share the dais with Priyanka Gandhi, and address several rallies to turn the fortunes of the party in the forthcoming Assembly elections.
The day Akhilesh Yadav released the party's manifesto at the SP office in Lucknow, she shared the dais with her husband, even though Mulayam Singh Yadav was conspicuous by his absence.
Leaders close to Dimple indicate that she has excellent organisational skills and has worked hard on issues such as malnutrition, maternity health care and primary education in Uttar Pradesh.
Leaders close to Dimple indicate that she has excellent organisational skills and has worked hard on several issues. [Photo: Indiatoday.in] |
A highly placed strategist within the SP, who is close to the UP first family and prefers to stay nameless, said: "She has excellent connect among the women and the youth. She can make a big difference; but as of now there is no action plan regarding her independent campaign schedule."
The same person indicated: "There is no nod from Akhilesh so far; so we are trying to convince that she should at least do some townhalls with women and young girls."
Till date, not a single programme has been designed for Dimple Yadav, despite the fact that several party workers want her to flank her leadership qualities and issue a clarion call to the women voters.
Akhilesh may have taken the bold decision of stepping into his father's shoes, but ironically seems overprotective about wife Dimple. Exactly the opposite sentiment prevails among his party workers, who feel that her excellent connect with the women voters should be utilised to the hilt.
Will Akhilesh relent, or will Dimple be sidelined during the campaign?