At 38, he will be youngest Chief Minister of the most politically sensitive State
Mulayam Singh, whose Samajwadi Party won a thumping victory in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, has handed over the reins to his son Akhilesh Yadav, who was unanimously elected leader of the party's legislature wing on Saturday.
At 38, Mr. Akhilesh Yadav will become the youngest Chief Minister of the country's most politically sensitive State, thumping the record for the youngest Chief Minister held by the outgoing Chief Minister, Mayawati, who first assumed office when she was 39 in 1995. He will take the oath of office and secrecy at a function to be held between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on March 15. The venue will be decided later.
After his election as leader of the Samajwadi Legislature Party, Mr. Yadav drove down to Raj Bhavan, met Governor B.L. Joshi and staked claim to form the government, handing him a list of 224 newly elected MLAs. He was accompanied by senior leaders Mohammad Azam Khan, Shivpal Singh Yadav and Ambika Chaudhary.
Many in the party feel that Mr. Akhilesh Yadav has won his spurs and is ready to step into his father's shoes, having revived the party's fortunes through the ‘kranti rath yatra,' which he launched on September 12 last year, and helped it score a landslide.
The Legislature Party meeting started at the party's headquarters around 11.30 a.m. and lasted an hour. The one-line proposal was moved by Mr. Khan and seconded by Mr. Akhilesh Yadav's uncle and Mr. Mulayam Singh's younger brother, Shivpal Singh Yadav. It was unanimously adopted. Mr. Mulayam Singh was present at the meeting, which was moderated by his cousin and national general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav and attended by all newly elected MLAs and MPs.
Talking to journalists after his election, Mr. Akhilesh Yadav said his government would not pursue politics of vendetta: the memorials built by the previous BSP government would not be disturbed. But, since these complexes possessed large space, a decision on building hospitals and institutions there would be taken later. He said the party's poll promises would be implemented in letter and in spirit. Maintenance of law and order would be the priority; strict action would be taken against officials who failed to crack down on anti-social elements.
Mr. Akhilesh Yadav said that though Mr. Mulayam Singh would focus his attention on national politics, he would play an important role in the State politics. Thanking the people for giving the party an absolute majority by rising above caste and religion, he said there would be no discrimination against anyone.
The name of Mr. Akhilesh Yadav for Chief Minister was doing the rounds ever since the party stormed back to power. While a large section of young MLAs and workers wanted him to become the Chief Minister, he maintained that “Netaji” (as Mr. Mulayam Singh is known) was the party's choice. Mr. Ram Gopal Yadav and senior leader Naresh Agarwal also backed him. In fact, Mr. Mulayam Singh himself had decided to give the charge to his son, but kept the cards close to his chest.
Keywords: Uttar Pradesh political developments, Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, Mulayam Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister
While it is a welcome step that Akilesh yadav is going to be the CM rather than his father, I am surprised at the optimism expressed in these responses. Even personally he wants to make a change, how he will implement it with all the political compulsions that has elected him as the yongest CM in the first place. Dysfunctional political set up and voting based on caste and religion has played a major role in SP winning the elections. Even a party like BJP is struggling to control mining mafia,how is he going to control corruption when the very people who have voted him has not done so for clean governance but only on narrow minded casteist and religious opportunistic reasons.
Why there is so much debate on AKhilesh Yadav's CM post? He spearheaded the campaign, led his party to success and is elected by his party MLAs as leader of legislature party. Everything seems to be in order. If some other young man is fit enough to become the PM of this country why not this professionally qualified, politically mandated person become CM of his state? He had won the election battle leading his Party. What other qualification he needs? If he is only 38, then it is not his fault.
I am aghast at seeing the opinions being expressed about this article.
Every one seems to be saying that installation of Akhilesh as the CM
of UP is a very possitive development.Some have expressed happiness at
a younger person taking over the reins and so on.My question is why
this younger person has to be Mulayam's son.If at all a younger face
was required it could have been that young lad from IIM Ahemdabad who
won from north Lucknow seat.Not only is he more qualified but much
younger to Akhilesh.If there is a popular demand, as is falsely being
made out,for Akhilesh's coronation then why the senior leadership of
samajwadi party including Shivpal Yadav and Azam Khan were so
reluctant in accepting Akhilesh as the CM.The fact of the matter is
Mulayam's party has been rewarded in UP for it's support to the UPA at
centre.Mulayam is not keeping good health and is dying to see his son
as the CM of UP.So far his plan has succeeded he leads his party at
the centre and his son rules UP.
It is nice to see that a young Engineer will lead the largest state of India as Chief Minister.But till now king dynasty continues in all over India i.e Chief Minister's wife/son to be Chief Minister, Prime Minster's Son/wife to be Prime Minister. Where is the pure Democracy ? However let us pray to God that Sri Akhilesh Yadav set a new example by taking decission at his own in making U.P a peaceful and prosperous state.
Akhilesh has everything which is needed - political capital earned by his father and multiplied by his own efforts, he has age on his side and he has goof education to guide him. Hope he acts with wisdom, courage and speed. With close to 1/6 of India living in UP, if the state wakes up and sprints on the path of development, it augers too well for the whole country. Hope other states also take cue from UP and give massive mandate to younger leaders - who can dream big and are energetic to run after the dream.
It's a decision taken to protect the future prospect of samajwadi
party in the state as the mass has voted on the face of mr. Akhilesh
yadav not for Mulayam singh. Hope he will handle the administration of
such hugely populated state particularly law and order situation.It's
always nice to see young faces in responsible posts.
best wishes to mr.Akhilesh Yadav.
It is a good sign that the younger faces get acceptance even from the
older generation to take up very serious and important position in
Indian politics. Ms. Mayawati has also done a lot to make UP a
peaceful state. Her age was also attributed to make strong decisions
in maintaining law and order in a state like UP. No matter who is the
person, young people of India, should get a feel that they are very
important in changing India's future and an agent to transform their
society in a better sense with modern outlook. Younger people have to
look at their future; elder people often behave without foresee the
future; to them what is more is present and the immediate. Of course
what I say is not a general theory.
Congrats! Mr. Akilesh. I was one of the persons who prayed to God that you should become a CM. And you should set a new trend in Indian politics and be inspiration for others in the all walks of life if it is a politics or sports to elect a young person as a leader.
I hope it will not be an "old wine in a new bottle" kind of situation.
Akhilesh must take law and order very seriously and he 'must be seen'
to be doing things that will change the battered image. What usually
happens is that once elected to office, the pressure will be so high
that these will take a back seat as more emergent mattes will crop up
every minute. Especially young, he will be swamped with requests from
all quarters for favor and help that he must not get diverted in these
petty affairs. Let Akhilesh set say 55 days as a target for setting
law and order right. Good luck.
I wish that Mr. Akhilesh will become True and Honest Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh to change the face of Uttar pradesh.
Now its time to change the face of India by Youth that is only possible by Youth with Truth.
In this occassion, I would like to invite all Youth of India to come forward together with Truth and form a group "Youth For Truth" to make New Prime Minister from "Youth For Truth"group.
I hope next Prime Minister will be from "Youth for Truth".
Sorry to spoil the party, but that's what we all thought when one Rajiv
Gandhi became PM - he was young, techno-savvy and wanted to change
things.... the rest as we know is history aka Bofors
Wish Akilesh Yadav all the best to change the state and country.
Request to former chief minister of tamil nadu,
Sir, pls look at the way the transition is taking place in UP and request you to give the mantle to next generation to make the party and tamil nadu better and stronger. We need two strong parties to have competition to perform
"Uttar Pradesh" the state which was next in the list of worst governance
after Bihar. Now the sun has risen. A young chap with fresh blood and
thoughts emerged. I heartily appreciate Mr.Mulayam Singh Yadav for
pronouncing his son for CM post. I support him strongly and look
forward to his statesmanship. I strongly pray for its permanent
development.
Akhilesh has got all the makings of a good leader - highly educated especially in the South and abroad, calm and mature (when he stated that he will not demolish the statues erected by Mayawati; unlike Rahul who tore away SP's election manifesto on the stage in a public meeting)with modern outlook and yet rooted firmly on the ground. He has won three Loksabha elections from Kannauj and knows what politics is. He has got the advantage of the age to prove his mettle. If he succeeds in taking the UP from the clutches backwardness and goondaism he will be an ideal candidate as a future Prime Minister of India. I pray Devi Chamundeswari (under whose grace Akhilesh graduated from Mysore)to bless him for a bright and successful political innings ahead in the interests of both his home State and the country in general which needs politicians of this kind.
Congratulation to the people of Uttar Pradesh that they getting a young,
vibrant, cool and well educated Chief Minister This time. Also
congratulation To Honorable Akhilesh Yadav.
,
''We wish him as the youngest CM to remain in the post for the next 5 yrs.Only then we could hope that Future India is in the hands of youngsters.We suggest to all parties to elect the next President of India and the PM of India in that age group whether it is man or woman. Doodu chennai 10 th march''
Wish you good luck Mr Yadav. Please take care of state and don't ever
dare to entertain Congress. Make promises which you can deliver, stick
to delivery what may cost it!
It seems that Dynasty is fate of our Indian democracy. Rahul or Akhilesh, they are part of a ruling political class and established system. On the other hand, there is a hope that, the a badely governed state like UP can get a good governance through leadership of Akhilesh. Because he his new, and there is always hope from newcomer. Akhilesh has to see at Bhiar, which has been creating new era in north India, Nistishkumar is icon for Akhilesh and newcomers like him.
A great moment for all youngsters in India! Hope he is not bogged down by orthodox seniors and cast biased party men.All the best Mr.Akilesh! Let this be the beginning for a vibrant young leadership regime change in India.
This is a welcome change in UP's politics. It is also an honour, a
challenge & a great opportunity for Akhilesh Yadav to represent 20 Cr
people and make a positive change in their lives. Hopefully, he will
stand by his words and not change once he takes over as CM like other
politicians.
U.P. need someone like him to wake up to the reality! No in the world can beat India if U.P. wakes up!
It is good that sane thinking ultimately prevailed in SP and young Akilesh is elected insted of his father to lead the most populous state of India. But he has the toughest task of eradicating poverty & illiteracy and also making UP a trash-free state, to improve health standards of ordinary folks. Having lived in south during UG studies, he might have understood the employment potential of IT and take UP forward in that direction. His cool temper which is an asset make him succeed in political endeavors.
This is the best gift to Uttar Pradesh Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav could ever give, Great many Thanks to him, and congratulations to Akhilesh for taking-up responsibility of leading the state, to new era of development and prosperity.
All good wishes to him for a bright and prosperous future.
The first and foremost priority for Mr.Akhilesh Yadav is to curb the post poll violence staged by his own party's goons.
I hope that Akilesh keeps up his promises and works aggressively as a 'no nonsense' person for the economic development of Uttar Pradesh. Law and Order should be strictly enforced and any one breaking the law should be punished irrespective of party affiliations.He should strive to weed out corruption and make Uttar Pradesh a 'Model State'in all spheres of development.
This is good beginning for the future of India. Young leaders are definitely acceptable to most Indians. I am sure young Indian leaders will prove to be more successful in providing a clean administration. The likes of Rajiv Gandhi, Nawab of Patudi and M S Dhoni are needed for breaking the hold of old guards.
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