Dawn of Akhilesh era in SP: CM upstages father Mulayam in smart coup
There has been a seismic shift in power equations within the Samajwadi Party. The events of the past few days have proved, if proof was needed, that the rank and file of the party have moved decisively to Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav's side. He is the new boss of the SP.
From being the founder and unquestioned leader of the party, Mulayam Singh Yadav has been divested of his presidentship, all decision-making powers, and moved upstairs to the post of "margdarshak" - the mentor of the party.
Outwitted and outmanoeuvred, his authority and stature stands diminished, an ignominy he could have done without in the winter of his life.
There is in fact an interesting parallel in the manner in which LK Advani and Mulayam's political career has panned out in recent years. Advani played a pivotal role in establishing the BJP and making it a force to reckon with at the national level, and in making Narendra Modi the CM of Gujarat and then standing by him through thick and thin.
Mulayam is the founder of the SP, he helped introduce Akhilesh to politics and in 2012 - though he was the natural choice to be CM - he passed on the mantle to his son.
Both leaders stand upstaged by their protégés. Advani and Mulayam have now been reduced to margdarshaks in their respective parties.
The ageing patriarch and his advisers did themselves no favour by pushing the CM into a corner and forcing him to rebel. Every time the two factions squared, it was evident that he enjoyed the majority support in the party. Yet, uncle Shivpal Yadav kept plotting and scheming, thereby forcing a confrontation with Akhilesh, which he and Mulayam were bound to lose.
Akhilesh has moved quickly to establish his stranglehold over the party. He has named one of his acolytes, Naresh Uttam, as the state party chief, and looks all set to recast the parliamentary board.
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| LK Advani and Mulayam Singh Yadav have been reduced to margdarshaks in their respective parties. (Photo: India Today) |
Unlike the past, when he was made to constantly look over his shoulder and seek the approval of his father and uncle on every major decision, he will be the one calling the shots now. His will be the final word on who gets the party's ticket in the forthcoming Assembly polls.
Akhilesh may have won the factional war within the party, however he has his task cut out for the Assembly elections. Even a united SP would have found the going tough; after the split his task has become all the more difficult.
Apart from the BJP and BSP, he will also have to contend with candidates put up by Shivpal. One possible way of covering up his flanks could be an alliance with the Congress and RLD, to offset any division in the Yadav-Muslim votebank. Either way, it's the dawn of Akhilesh era in the SP.