Mulayam joins Priyanka in ‘Exclusive Campaigners Club’!

Burying their long running political differences and bickering, the ruling Samajwadi Party and Congress had forged a pre-poll alliance in Uttar Pradesh to keep both BJP and BSP at bay.

The alliance was necessitated for their political buoyancy in the backdrop of BJP then being projected to lead UP poll following surgical strikes across the LoC and later demonetisation.

Even as the SP-Congress alliance is keeping firm barring a few assembly seats where the two parties are locked in ‘friendly fights’, the two parties boast of a tall figure in their respective kitty, who has so far campaigned only selectively!

SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have campaigned for their respective party candidates only in select constituencies.

So far, Mulayam has only campaigned for his kin, including his younger brother Shivpal Singh Yadav and daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav, who is the wife of the SP founder’s younger son Prateek.

On February 11 and 13, Mulayam had addressed public meetings in Jaswantnagar assembly constituency of Etawah district from where Shivpal is contesting. On February 15, Mulayam sought votes for Aparna, who is contesting from Lucknow Cantonment constituency against sitting legislator Rita Bahuguna Joshi.

Both Jaswantnagar and Lucknow Cantonment constituencies witnessed polling in the third phase on Feb 19.

Priyanka, who was earlier projected to be the star campaigner for Congress, has campaigned only on February 17, when she addressed a public meeting in Rae Bareli, the traditional pocket boroughs of the Gandhi family.

Sonia and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi represent Rae Bareli and Amethi respectively in Lok Sabha respectively.

However, the reasons for Mulayam and Priyanka confining themselves to select meetings are divergent.

Mulayam was ousted as the SP president this year. With chief minister Akhilesh Yadav taking over the reigns of SP, Mulayam does not wield much influence in the party and the state government in the current power dynamics.

While, Mulayam himself had decided against canvassing for candidates, the SP candidates have also been unenthusiastic on ‘Netaji’ electioneering for the fear of the socialist leader taking a different position on key issues and possibly spoiling their electoral chances.

On the other hand, Priyanka, whom a section of Congress leaders want to portray a larger political role, has shied away from poll rigmarole. Her activism in the party could set up unwanted comparisons with her elder brother Rahul Gandhi, who is being groomed to replace Sonia as the party president.