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Mulayam blows the election bugle

Special Correspondent

Exhorts party workers to work for securing a two-thirds majority in Assembly polls

Photo: Subir Roy

BATTLE CRY: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav during a party convention in Lucknow on Saturday. Also present are party leaders Amar Singh, Azam Khan, Janeshwar Mishra and Mata Prasad Pandey.

LUCKNOW: Delivering the political mantra of "do or die" to his party men for securing a two-thirds majority in next year's State Assembly elections, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav indicated that the elections may not be held before May 2007.

In what according to Mr. Yadav would be a make-or-break poll, the Chief Minister drew the attention of his party men towards the UPA Government-led conspiracy to bamboozle the Samajwadi Party and his government. He emphasised on the need to win next year's election by showing more commitment and unity of purpose.

Mr. Yadav's indication that the elections would be held when the State would automatically come under President's rule after the expiry of the present Assembly's term on May 14, 2007, confirmed the worst fears in the ruling party circles, notwithstanding Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswamy's statement that the poll process would be completed before May 14 next year.

Launching his party's election campaign at the special convention of the Samajwadi Party here on Saturday, Mr. Yadav ridiculed the Congress that elections were not won with the help of Raj Bhavan. He warned the UPA Government that if his government was dismissed the Central Government would not remain in office for a day.

He said the Congress, the BJP and the BSP had ganged up against the Samajwadis and were pursuing the common agenda of seeking dismissal of the government. Referring to the CEC's recent visit to Lucknow, the SP president said these parties told Mr. Gopalaswamy that impartial elections were not possible under the present regime. Morever, they demanded deployment of Central forces, he said, and added that these were episodes of the conspiracy to dismiss his government.

Mr. Yadav said while he had written to the CEC for the polls to be held any time after the last bathing day of Ardh Kumbh on February 14, 2007, the Opposition parties did not want the polls between February and March next year.

Stating that these would be no ordinary elections as the future of the Samajwadi movement was at stake, the Chief Minister exhorted his party cadres to be vigilant against the strategic voting by the BJP, the Congress and the BSP in the Vidhan Sabha elections.

Echoing similar sentiments, party vice-president Janeshwar Mishra said in all likelihood the Congress would scuttle the election process. He alleged that the UPA Government would use the Governor for creating obstacles in the poll process being completed before May. Mr. Mishra warned the Centre that the dismissal of the Mulayam Government would trigger off mass rebellion on the streets and the Congress-led government "may have to re-impose Emergency" in a bid to control the popular outburst.

Mr. Mishra said the UP Governor functioned as an "agent" of the UPA Government and drew a parallel between UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackerey who did not "venture out of Rae Bareli, Amethi and Maharashtra, respectively".

SP general secretary Amar Singh dubbed the Governor as "Goebbels" and alleged that he was adept in giving false statements. Without naming V. P. Singh and Raj Babbar, Mr. Singh said the coming together of the Jan Morcha, the NCP and the CPI meant nothing for the Samajwadi Party.

The presence of Vidhan Sabha Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey in the political convention raised several eyebrows.

But the Speaker was undeterred as he eulogised the Chief Minister and reminded the party men of the "sankalp" (resolve) to win the elections.

The political resolution adopted at the convention exhorted the party men and workers to demolish the Opposition challenge.

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