CM's post not discussed at party meet, says SP's rising star

The Samajwadi Party wants Mulayam Singh Yadav to be the next chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, says a rising star of the party.

The issue of whether Mulayam's son Akhilesh Yadav should become the next chief minister, instead of his father, was not discussed at the first post-poll meeting of SP legislators in the state capital

Akhilesh Mishra, a graduate of the Massachusetts University of Technology, a professor of IIM-Ahmedabad and now a legislator from Lucknow North constituency, shared this information with media personnel outside the party's headquarters in Lucknow.

He said while it was true that many leaders wanted Akhilesh to take over the top post, most party members wanted Mulayam to be at the helm of affairs as he is the most respected leader in the party. He has been working for the nation since the time of independence and birth of democracy, said Mishra.

Mishra said the final decision about this will be taken only when the party holds its next meeting after Holi.

When asked about the role of mafia dons in the party, he said the SP will not tolerate any sort of violence or anti-social activities and will take strict action in such cases.

He denied media reports about SP workers beating up journalists in Jhansi, saying they were not party members and were acting on somebody's else's instructions, maybe Bahujan Samaj party leader Mayawati.

Mishra stated that his main priority right now was to improve Lucknow's crumbling infrastructure, ensure sanitation, supply clean water and provide toilet facilities.

Mishra, who is tipped to be the candidate for the powerful position of party general secretary, said the Samajwadi Party will do its best to carry out all the promises made by it.