By Faisal Fareed, TwoCircles.net
Projecting a united face after the recent power squabble in Yadav family, Samajwadi Party may face another crisis in coming days. This time the controversy may range over an issue all too familiar before the run-up to elections: the distribution of party tickets for 2017 assembly polls.
The Akhilesh camp has devised a two-way strategy to deal with power struggle: first, take up issues raising rules mentioned in SP’s constitution and second, to isolate Shivpal within the Yadav family.
Indications have been given by SP’s expelled Rajya Sabha MP Ramgopal Yadav that a special convention of the party may be summoned to tide over the crisis. Ramgopal is ardent supporter of Akhilesh Yadav and is pitted against state president Shivpal Yadav.
On November 10, Ramgopal minced no words in claiming that Shivpal Yadav is distributing tickets as per his whims and fancies. He even targeted Mulayam, stating that he is being misled.
Such accusations are quite common during power struggle in any party. But Ramgopal has given enough signals that Akhilesh camp is ready to deal with the crisis. Recently, Shivpal had changed two tickets from Chauri Chaura and Sahjanwa seat in UP. To avoid any showdown again with Shivpal, preparations are on to put pressure on him to yield and fall in line.
Ramgopal has claimed that a special convention of the party may be summoned. The constitution of SP, which was drafted in Jabalpur convention in 2008, states that national convention will be held every three years which will include all MPs, MLAs, former MPs and district board members. But on the demand of 40 percent of these members a special convention of the party can be summoned. This is mentioned in section 23 of SP’s constitution.
Akhilesh’s camp is hopeful that they command sway over party’s members and hence will be easily able to muster courage and raise such demands which will put pressure on Shivpal. Their main allegation is that tickets are being distributed arbitrarily by Shivpal by misleading Mulayam. This will help in cornering him within the party by projecting that he has lost support. And the decision will get stamp of party’s convention that CM Akhilesh Yadav will distribute the tickets.
Another strategy by Akhilesh camp is to isolate Shivpal within Yadav family. On November 10 during Ramgopal’s interaction with media several members of Yadav family openly sat with him while he accused Shivpal. Mainpuri MP and Mulayam’s grandnephew Tej Pratap Singh Yadav, Mulayam’s nephew and Etawah’s district board chairman Anshul Yadav, Ramgopal’s nephew and SP’s expelled MLC Arvind Yadav, SP’s MLC Dileep Yadav, Etawah’s MLA Raghuraj Singh Shakya, SP’s MLA from Mainpuri Rajkumar Yadav were present during the function. Not only this, hundreds of people from Etawah region were present to meet Ramgopal. This was done to present a picture that Shivpal has lost support in Etawah Mainpuri area and also within Yadav family.
Whatever be the result, infighting within SP and Yadav family is far from over and the second phase may begin any day, though not so open but in a more discreet manner.