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Raj Babbar's victory casts a shadow on Mulayam in Uttar Pradesh | November 10, 2009 will be observed as a Black Day every year by the Samajwadi Party, as on this day it suffered perhaps the biggest ever jolt in its 17-year history. Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law Dimple Yadav lost
to one time partyman Raj Babbar by a huge margin of 85,343 votes, and to rub salt
on the wound the party could not win even a single Assembly seat out of the 11
that went to by-polls on November 7. Worst was the fact that Mulayam's party candidate
lost in Etawah, which was once considered as his citadel dominated by Yadavs,
who perhaps for the first time in past 20 years openly voted against his party.
Mulayam never used to campaign in Etah, Etawa and Mainpuri and even his opponents
believed that these were his strongholds. Samajwadi Party's candidate could not
even win the Bharthana Assembly seat, which was vacated by none other than Mulayam
Singh after winning a Lok Sabha seat earlier this year. When confabulations were
on and feelers were being sent that Dimple would be fielded from Ferozabad, editorials
in Hindi dailies had severely criticised the move, saying that once "Lohiawadi
and Samajwadi" Mulayam had turned into "Parivarwadi". But senior Samajwadi Party
leaders shunned the analysis saying that the journalists who write such editorials
while sitting in closed corridors in Delhi are "miles away from ground realities".
Election results, particularly from Ferozabad Lok Sabha seat, have, in fact, sealed
the lips of Mulayam's family members who (till the morning of November 10) were
sure shot of the "bahu's" emphatic win. The party fell short of words to explain
the defeat. Mulayam Singh said: "Huge money power against us led to our defeat."
The analysts are debating the Amar Singh factor in Samajwadi Party, which they
say has seen many a senior leaders leaving the party over the years. Examples
quoted by them are namely Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav, Beni Prasad Verma, Azam Khan
and Raj Babbar. The first three were among those who laid the foundation of the
party. Lately, intellectual circles are speculating about the next move of Amar
Singh who may shift his party loyalties in order save himself from cases pending
against him. Prior to the elections the speculations were that the fielding of
Dimple Yadav from Ferozabad was Amar Singh's decision, and it was "well-received"
by Mulayam's son, Akhilesh Yadav, who wanted to assert his claim on Samajwadi
Party's legacy. Many people said that Mulayam Singh Yadav was not in favour of
fielding Dimple. Result of the election assumes significance as it comes out soon
after Akhilesh Yadav was installed as president of party's Uttar Pradesh unit.
While campaigning during the by-poll from the constituency he had won from a few
months ago, he was heard telling voters - "Earlier I asked you to vote for me,
now I ask you to vote for my wife." He appeared over-confident with the support
of Lodh votes, which he thought were 'guaranteed' because of the recent "political-understanding"
between Samajwadi Party and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh (a
Lodh by caste). But, he absolutely failed to gauge the undercurrent, which led
to his wife's defeat. Had he gone by his father's wish of not fielding Dimple,
perhaps he would have saved from this embarrassment! It said that unlike Mulayam
Singh who was always on the move crisscrossing the state in public transport buses,
on foot and boarding bullock-carts. On the contrary, his son Akhilesh Yadav is
unapproachable, claiming to be "busy" reaching out to his voters and supporters
through his blackberry. Akhilesh is also surrounded by eulogisers who never lose
a chance to remind him that he was the only Lok Sabha MP to win from two constituencies
(earlier this year). On the other hand, those who worked with Mulayam Singh since
his early days in politics, say that it was one of his best habits to listen to
his critics' views and suggestions for hours together without uttering a word,
and keeping those flattering him at a distance. The recent election results are
being seen as a referendum on Akhilesh's capabilities as he was installed as Uttar
Pradesh unit chef only a few months back. They are also a warning to him to improve
upon his political skills to match his father's dedication and sheer hard work. |
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