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UP 2017: As Akhilesh's rath sets off, Shivpal conspicuously missing from yatra hoardings, standees

Atul Chandra | Updated on: 10 February 2017, 1:45 IST

In the build-up to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's Rath Yatra the Lohia Path was plastered with hoardings and standees from which the Samajwadi Party State President Shivpal Yadav's photograph was conspicuously missing.

These hoardings far out-numbered the few standees and a couple of banners announcing the upcoming silver jubilee function of the party on 5 November which held out an olive branch with - "Shivpal kahen dil se, Akhilesh ka abhishek phir se" (Shivpal says from his heart, Akhilesh to be anointed again).

The combined appeal for rath (chariot), a misnomer for a Mercedes bus, yatra and the silver jubilee function is sponsored by the controversial member of the legislative council Ashu Malik, whose complaint had led to the expulsion of Pawan Pandey, a minister close to Akhilesh.

But it is not only the hoardings, but Shivpal's physical presence is also unlikely at Akhilesh's show. Though Mulayam, it is said, will be there to bless his son.

Power show

The specially designed Mercedes will leave for the first leg of campaign in Unnao on 3 November, but buses ferrying his supporters began descending on the state capital from 2 November.

As Akhilesh wants the launch of the campaign to be a show of strength, his supporters began converging on Lucknow for the flag off from a day before.

After the family feud had played out on national TV, Akhilesh had mustered the support of 183 out of 229 MLAs to thwart any misadventure by Shivpal and has since ensured that there is no softening of his tough posture.

The Yadav family picture still remains fuzzy with speculations about the presence of Amar Singh at the party's foundation day silver jubilee celebrations. Akhilesh had confirmed his participation recently.

Also, present at the big bash will be Shivpal and Gayatri Prasad Prajapati, both of whom have been sacked by the chief minister and is yet to be re-inducted into the ministry.

While the "samajwadi" Akhilesh dumped the bicycle for a luxury bus as a symbol of development, Shivpal held a meeting of the party's youth wings in Lucknow on Wednesday and was allegedly angry at the poor turnout.

Akhilesh has also urged his supporters to make the silver jubilee event a huge success.

Atul Chandra/Catch News
Atul Chandra/Catch News
Atul Chandra/Catch News

Upping the game

In 2011, Akhilesh had started his yatra from the party office but this time the venue has been shifted to the La Martiniere College ground as the 'rath' is said to be too big for the party office.

The chariot has the Samajwadi Party's red and green colours and is adorned with photographs of Akhilesh riding a bicycle and the SP president Mulayam.

The 10.5-metre long chariot also has pictures of Ram Manohar Lohia, Janeshwar Mishra, and Jai Prakash Narain, but not of Shivpal.

Akhilesh's signature schemes find a place on the chariot by way of pictorial depictions.

The luxury vehicle, which has a washroom and office space for the CM, is fitted with a hydraulic shaft which can rise five feet above through the sun roof to help Akhilesh Yadav address the crowd from a height of 15 feet. While on the hydraulic platform, he will be protected by bullet proof glass on three sides.

Hard truths

Akhilesh believes that the yatra's success would imply people's approval for his developmental politics but the real outcome would be known only after the counting of votes is over.

Aware of this hard reality, the party is striving to stitch together an alliance to keep the Bharatiya Janata Party out and ensure that Akhilesh remains the CM.

So far only the Congress, the Rashtriya Lok Dal and Rashtriya Janata Dal have shown interest in forming an alliance.

The role being played by Shivpal, along with Mulayam, in forging an alliance raises doubts about the extent of differences between them. Aren't Akhilesh and his uncle working for the common goal of Samajwadi Party's return to power?

Edited by Jhinuk Sen

Also read: SP won't split: Mulayam realises he can't do without Akhilesh Yadav

http://www.catchnews.com/politics-news/sp-won-t-split-mulayam-realises-he-can-t-do-without-akhilesh-yadav-1477496006.html

Also read: Mulayam, Akhilesh, Shivpal wash dirty laundry in public as Uttar Pradesh watches on

http://www.catchnews.com/politics-news/mulayam-akhilesh-shivpal-wash-dirty-laundry-in-public-as-uttar-pradesh-watches-on-1477312597.html

Also read: Mulayam says all's well in parivaar & party, refuses to name Akhilesh as CM candidate again

http://www.catchnews.com/politics-news/mulayam-says-all-s-well-in-parivaar-party-refuses-to-name-akhilesh-as-cm-candidate-again-1477404088.html

First published: 3 November 2016, 6:30 IST