Even though Uttar Pradesh verdict will be known on March 6 only, Samajwadi Party camp has moved into celebration mode. While UP unit chief Akhilesh Yadav is being credited for having brought life to the party, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is being stated within the party to be the only chief ministerial candidate.
“Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) will be the chief minister if the SP forms the government. Akhilesh has done wonders for the party by energising the cadre and connecting to the youth. But Netaji is party’s identity among the people,” said Mr Rajesh Dikshit, national secretary of the SP.
Still one phase to go to the poll, the SP camp appears to be in the grip of celebrations, with the party leaders claiming to be winning about 180 Assembly seats. With a large number of smaller parties in the fray, the SP is hopeful that the party could count on the support of Independent and smaller parties’ MLAs.
A host of smaller parties, like the Peace Party, Ulema Council, Qoumi Ekta Party, Apna Dal, are in contention in various pockets of the state. The SP leaders claim that 80 per cent of the Muslim voters are supporting the party, which could be decisive when the election results come out.
“No one within the party is talking of winning less than 180 Assembly seats. Even the Opposition leaders have started admitting that the SP would be the single largest party. With a large number of Independents likely to win, the SP could easily form the government with their support,” added Mr Dikshit.
Though Mr Akhilesh Yadav, after taking the reins of the party, had faced a series of poll debacles starting with the 2009 general elections and finally with the defeat of his wife Dimple Yadav in the Firozabad Lok Sabha byelection, the party leaders are of the view that his relentless campaign beginning in September on the Kranti Rath has galvanised the party for the crucial Assembly elections. However, the party leaders admit that Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav is still the biggest vote catcher for the SP.