Uneasy lies the road ahead for Akhilesh Yadav, whose political revival faces challenges from within and outside the Samajwadi Party
On the sprawling grounds of the Samajwadi Party office in Lucknow, defeat lurks around as an orphan. Everyone sees it, no one acknowledges it. Three months after the Lok Sabha election results, where the party tally was five, there have been no review meetings so far. And, the gaggle of party workers who continue to hang around the office no longer shy away from the jibe, “Adhyakshji yahan nahi milte (The party president is not available here).”
Seven years after he pedalled around the state to change the party’s image of an anti-elitist reserve of the unrefined, Akhilesh Yadav’s political career stands at the crossroads. While the party has not performed worse than the last Lok Sabha polls, the fact that three members of his family, including wife Dimple, stumbled calls for urgent account taking of his stature and showing.
The recent disbanding of all party units in the state and in Delhi and the removal of office-bearers might be a start. Opinion is divided on what this means for the party—is it the first step in a long due reorganisation, or will it lead to a deeper spell of despair among partymen. Those who cite the former say that Akhilesh has acted on numerous complaints of inactivity and money-making by those sacked. With a loss of formal positions, they will exert themselves to get back in his good books. This holds especially true for a section that keeps saying, “Akhilesh, tum par jawani qurbaan” (Our youth is dedicated to you, Akhilesh). It is also indicative of Akhilesh’s awareness that his is the most recognisable face in the party and everyone around him has a stake in his political resurrection. Others believe that, without an organisation the party will be incapable of playing the role of an effective opposition. In the forthcoming bypolls and the Panchayati Raj polls, these disgruntled elements will work for their interests and further corrode the party.
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