For normal people, democracy means ‘of the people, by the people, for the people’ but for Mulayam Singh Yadav’s family, Democracy is all about the family. Now, the entry of another member of Yadav family in the politics may soon be possible. The Samajwadi Party’s National general secretary, Prof Ramgopal Yadav’s grandson Kartikey Yadav has also joined the exercise to politically establish himself. On Monday, during the state-wide protest of Samajwadi Party, Kartikey Yadav appeared with his grandfather Professor Ramgopal Yadav on stage at Etawah Tehsil. It was for the first time that he was seen on a stage with his grandfather. Before this, he had made few small appearances.
In order to take forward his family’s political tradition, Kartikey Yadav reached to Tehsil premises with full enthusiasm. The Samajwadi Party workers were extremely jubilant by seeing the great strength displayed by Kartikey. Many Samajwadi Party workers and volunteers gathered to the campus and cheered Kartikey.
It seems that Kartikey is being promoted to woo the youth voters of the region and also to counter the influence of Shivpal Yadav who has recently formed his own ‘Secular Morcha.’ He has not only floated different political outfit but has also asked the loyal members to join his faction for the sake of old loyalties, especially towards the ex-supremo and India’s former Defence Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Now, it looks like that Akhilesh Yadav has taken the appeal of Shivpal Yadav very seriously and he has apprehensions that some senior leaders of the SP might desert the party and join the newly formed Secular Morcha. His fears are not baseless at all. Shivpal Yadav released the list of nine spokespersons of his party. He has given place to big faces that were part of the Akhilesh’s cabinet. It includes the names of Shadab Fatima and Sharda Pratap Shukla. After creating Secular Morcha, Shivpal Yadav is leaving no stone unturned to show his political strength. On Tuesday, during the Sri Krishna Vahini’s program in Lucknow, supporters of Shivpal gathered in large number. By seeing such a huge crowd his confidence touched sky and he announced to directly lock horns with Akhilesh. He also attacked Akhilesh without taking his name. He indirectly compared Akhilesh Yadav with Kauravas. He said, “Pandavas had asked for five villages from the Kauravas, but I had only asked for respect. I have taken this step after waiting for two years and now there is no turning back. I have taken this step after consulting netaji Mulayam Singh Yadav.” Targeting Akhilesh, he further said, “I never wanted an infight but some people were helping my opponents. People generally get arrogant when they taste power, just like Ravana got arrogant.”
Shivpal Yadav has the support of some of the senior and strong members of the SP which is not a good sign for Akhilesh. On the other hand, the strength of Akhilesh Yadav is the popularity which he enjoys among the youths and this is the reason why Kartikey is being promoted, in order to expand the clout among youths and solidify the youth vote bank. And also by employing such political maneuvers, Akhilesh Yadav wants to send the message that Yadav family is united and Shivpal is an exception rather than the rule. It looks like there is no end to the SP’s Parivar-war.