In yet another sign of worsening infighting in Samajwadi Party,UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday announced that he will embark on his ‘Vikas Rath Yatra’ alone from November 3 which will make him skip the party’s silver jubilee celebrations slated to begin two days later.
In a letter to his father and party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Chief Minister declared his intention to commence his yatra, which was put off last month after the open turf war with his uncle Shivpal Yadav, saying all political parties have already started their campaign for the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.
“I had decided to take out the yatra from October 3 but it was cancelled due to some reasons. I will take out the ‘Samajwadi Vikas Rath Yatra’ from November 3,” Akhilesh wrote.
The announcement gave rise to speculation that Akhilesh might skip SP’s sliver jubilee celebrations that begin on November 5 to send a message that he was unhappy over the expulsion of youth leaders from the party, who would not be present at the event.
Apart from reaching out to people and galvanising party workers, Akhilesh’s yatra is seen as a move to truncate the influence of Shivpal, who had been appointed the new state party president in his place.
Akhilesh has also sent copies of the letter to state party chief Shivpal Yadav and National General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav. He said yatra’s detailed programme will be communicated to district presidents and party workers in due course.
