No threat to Akhilesh's leadership in SP

Will Akhilesh ask Azam Khan to lead the SP legislature party?
Amit Agnihotri finds out.

A drubbing in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls is unlikely to cast a cloud over Akhilesh Yadav's leadership in the Samajwadi Party.

Akhilesh, who emerged from the shadow of his father, Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, just a few months ago and was appointed the SP's national president, will continue to hold the post, sources said.

That means more of an advisory role for Mulayam Singh who backed his son, but doubts still remain over the future of Mulayam's brother Shivpal Singh Yadav who was locked in a bitter power struggle with Akhilesh till recently and may have rocked the SP boat from within.

Party sources claimed that as most office bearers, party MLAs and MPs sided with Akhilesh before the assembly polls, the former CM is unlikely to face any threats to his leadership in the coming days.

The challenge for him would be to present the party as an effective Opposition, both within and outside the assembly.

The SP's 47 elected lawmakers will meet soon to decide the legislative party leader. However, whether Akhilesh entrusts veteran Azam Khan with the key responsibility or not remains to be seen, they said.

With a subdued Bahujan Samaj Party and a feeble Congress, the challenge to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party government will rest solely with the SP.

Sources said once the government formation is over in Lucknow, the party will convene a national executive to ponder over the causes for the poll results and decide on the future course of action.

Akhilesh is young and has long years ahead of him even though his friendship with Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi did not help him in terms of electoral gains, said the sources.

The two leaders, who outlined a new vision for UP's development and tried to work out a template for the 2019 national elections, may continue with their pact.

In fact, at one point when the Yadav family feud was at its peak and a split in the SP seemed imminent, Rahul was inclined only to join hands with the Akhilesh faction, as the young CM had carved out an image of a clean and pro-development politician for himself as many in the state were wary of Shivpal calling the shots in the party.

However, a disgruntled Shivpal, who was somehow convinced by Mulayam Singh to accept Akhilesh's ascension as SP chief, may choose to part ways in the comings days.

That event, if it happens, is unlikely to weaken the party, said SP sources.

In contrast, Mulayam's cousin Ram Gopal Yadav, who backed Akhilesh in the power struggle, will continue to lead the party in the Rajya Sabha.

Party leaders said they will remind the voters about the work done by the Akhilesh government but acknowledged that dealing with the BJP's brute majority may not be easy.

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