Akhilesh?s cycle yatra to project SP?s ?young face?

With its proposed ?Janjagran cycle yatra? to take off on March 8, the Samajwadi Party is making a second attempt to project party president Mulayam Singh Yadav?s son Akhilesh Yadav as the party?s face in the state. Akhilesh will be in the forefront of the campaign, which is meant to mobilise the party across UP, while Mulayam Singh Yadav will keep a low profile.

Akhilesh Yadav was made state party president in June last year, apparently to give the SP a young image, after Rahul Gandhi led the Congress recovery in the state in the Lok Sabha elections.

But after the defeat of his wife Dimple in the Ferozabad Lok Sabha by-election in November, which was caused by Akhilesh?s resignation, he appeared to fade into the background.

As the party was hobbled by one blow after another?the rout in the legislative council elections and the events leading to Amar Singh?s expulsion?it was Mulayam Singh himself, cousin Ram Gopal and Mohan Singh who were seen in the forefront, trying to contain the damage.

The party?s ?jail bharo? agitation against inflation on January 19 was also led by Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Now, however, Akhilesh is scheduled to lead the cycle yatra. His father will join the two week-long campaign on the concluding day on March 23, the birth centenary of Ram Manohar Lohia.

Starting from Jhansi in Bundelkhand region on March 8, Akhilesh is expected to cover three districts of the region. Later, he will visit other parts of the state. The yatra, which was originally scheduled to conclude on March 15, has now been extended to March 23.

?Some reverses during the past few months?? have not weakened the party, claims Akhilesh. However, ?we realise that there are some shortcomings and a section of the electorate has alienated from the party, we will address these issues during the Jagran Yatra?, he says. ?There are three stock charges against our party? that we are the party of Yadavs, that there is family rule in the party and the Muslims have deserted the party. We will clear our position on all three issues?, says Yadav.