Aiming to replicate the Samajwadi Party’s “bicycle driven” success in the 2012 Assembly elections, its president Mulayam Singh flagged off a “yatra” here on Saturday, reminding the participants that the objective was to capture power at the Centre.
“ Lucknow par qabza ho chuka hae, ab asli baat Dilli ki hai, Dilli par qabza aapki bhumika taye karegi, (Lucknow has been annexed, now capturing power at the Centre will largely depend on the role of the party workers),” Mr. Singh said.
Referring to the United Front government at the Centre in which he was Minister, Mr. Singh said it could not complete its term as “some leaders of political parties failed to work together.” Now, if the workers ensured that the SP emerged as an important player, a “ mazboot sarkar ” (stable government) would come into being.
By way of caution to the cycle yatris who included girls, he said: “Don’t react to criticism and remain cautious against the conspiracy of opponents.” Slogans which made the “janata” happy should be raised during the rally.
In an oblique reference to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Mr. Singh said the money spent on welfare schemes equivalent to the entire budget of Gujarat had already been spent for the people in Uttar Pradesh in two years of the SP government.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who joined his father in flagging off the rally from the party headquarters, said people should be made aware of the government’s achievements. For, great work had been done by the SP regime but it lagged behind in highlighting it.
The cycle yatras will be taken out in all Assembly constituencies till February 7. Ministers and party functionaries have been asked to ride cycles and establish contact with the people. Cycle is the party’s election symbol.
