SP convention: Mulayam Singh Yadav not to figure in hoardings

Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav will be missing from the hoardings to be placed for the national convention of the party scheduled to be held in Agra on October 5.

The format of the hoarding received from Lucknow has a big photograph of national president Akhilesh Yadav besides Mohd Azam Khan, Dimple Yadav, Ramgopal Yadav and Kiranmoy Nanda, sources in the party said.

Besides Mulayam, his brother Shivpal Yadav is also missing from the hoardings. These hoardings will be put up in the city by September 20.

Mulayam used to choose Agra for national executive and national meet as he considered the city to be lucky for the party.

Under Mulayam’s leadership, the party organised national convention and executive meet at Agra in 1993, 1996, 2003, 2009, 2011 and 2013. Following the meetings, the party registered good results in elections.

Party leaders in Agra said they would comply with the format received from the national president.

“We have received the format for hoardings from Lucknow and the pattern will be followed as per the instructions. The party workers willing to place hoardings will have to follow this format,” said city unit president Raisuddin who also heads the publicity and preparation for the meet.

Besides this hoarding, another format has been received which has place for personalities associated with the ideology of ‘samajwad’.

This hoarding will have photographs of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, Jayaprakash Narayan, Janeshwar Mishra, Mohan Singh and Braj Bhushan Tiwari.

“The city will be decked up with eight ‘dwars’ (gates) to be named after Chaudhary Charan Singh, Ram Manohar Lohia, Jayaprakash Narayan, Acharya Narendra Dev, Raj Narain, Karpoori Thakur, Madhu Limaye and Janardan Mishra,” said Raisuddin.

He, however, avoided discussion on the omission of Mulayam’s name and said he was following the instructions.

The days ahead may unfold more chapters in the broadening gap within the party. Shivpal has remained vocal in taking on Akhilesh and had even hinted at some ‘decision’ during his visit to Mainpuri last Thursday.