LUCKNOW, May 14: If projections of a landslide win of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh in the exit polls surveys by various TV channels are to be believed, it may very well bring the curtains down for the Samajwadi party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s hopes of making it to the top job in India – the Prime Ministerialship. Though Mr Yadav is certain to win both parliamentary seats he has contested – Manipuri and Azamgarh- the SP Government in UP will be under tremendous pressure once the results are formally announced on May 16.
In January this year, the SP chief addressing a party meeting had cautioned party leaders that if the party fails to win adequate number of seats in Lok Sabha elections, the survival of the State Government would become highly untenable even as the party enjoys a clear majority on the floor of the House.
SP chief had then said the party is fully prepared for the Lok Sabha elections and the candidates for all the 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP have been declared by the party.
“Its my elections, I am in the contest in all the 80 seats, so bury the hatchet, devote your all time and energy for the elections as our target is to win maximum number of parliament seats in the State,” exhorted Mr Yadav to his party cadres.
SP spokesperson Rajendra Choudhury, however, rejected the exit poll results saying, ‘it’s a manipulation by the corporate media at the behest of the BJP.’
“We will wait for the last vote to be counted on May 16 and we are confident that the party will match its tally of seats it won in 2009 Lok Sabha elections and win at least 20 seats”, said Reoti Raman Singh, Allahabad MP of SP, who was locked in close contest with Shyama charan Gupta of the BJP.
Right now, however, the party is in damage control mode. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav dismissing the exit poll results said today the party will have to deliver to the people to win the next State assembly elections in 2017.
“People have benefited from our welfare schemes but they want better performance,” he said.
SP sources, however, said, “within this month’s heads will roll and large number of the party leaders rewarded with the rank of minister and minister of State as heads of various Government and autonomous bodies will be divested of the coveted honour and will be held accountable for the dismal performance of the party candidates in their respective districts and constituencies.” Sources said many cabinet ministers may also be shown the door if the party performs poorly in the general elections.
The ruling party leaders also see a silver lining in the drubbing the party expects in the LS elections. “The whispers in corridors of power of parallel power centres in the party and the Government would soon vanish in thin air and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav will be in complete command of the Government and will ruthlessly run the Government as per his forward looking agenda to win the support of the people,” sources claimed. (UNI)
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