<p>Samajwadi Party (SP) workers' violent attacks on their political rivals across Uttar Pradesh even before their ‘hero’ and leader Akhilesh Yadav assumed office of the chief minister in India's biggest state, not only underscores the fear that occupied the mind of the common people in the state but also poses a huge challenge before the young leader, who steered his party to a resounding victory in the assembly polls.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Largely credited for bringing his party in tune with the changing social mindset and making it popular among the tech savvy urban and the aspiring rural youth, Akhilesh will be required to display political acumen and leadership skill to take along the old socialists and the younger generation and keep both in good spirits.<br /><br />The immediate challenge before Akhilesh will certainly be law and order and make sure that the ‘goonda raj’ (rule of criminals), that made a comeback with the SP rule in the past and was largely responsible for the defeat of the party in the 2007 assembly polls, did not return as feared by many. He would also have to take some tough measures to take the state on the road to progress.<br /><br />The SP's ‘heir apparent' will be hard pressed to implement the election manifesto of the party, that included distribution of free lap tops and tablets to the Class 10 and 12th pass outs, doling out unemployment allowance of Rs 1,000 to every unemployed youth and free power to the farmers. According to the experts, the new regime will require Rs 70,000 crore to fully implement the manifesto.<br /><br />Party leaders here say that Mulayam Singh Yadav now wants to focus on national politics. “The party feels that it has a good chance of becoming a major force in the next Lok Sabha polls,'' the leaders said. “We aim to win 50-55 seats in the next general elections...and who knows with a weak Congress...anything is possible,” they felt.<br /><br />There also are talks about the revival of the Third Front comprising Mulayam Singh, Mamata Banerjee, Nitish Kumar, Navin Patnaik, Chandra Babu Naidu and Jayalalitha and some other smaller outfits. Clearly the responsibility of keeping the hopes of the party alive in the 2014 Lok Sabha election will be on Akhilesh. “If he does not deliver, we may not do that well,” the leaders said.<br /><br />It remains to be seen if the young and tech savvy SP leader delivers on the promises and carries his party to newer heights.</p>.<p>Related Stories <br /><br /><a href="../content/233458/regional-parties-stakes-deepening-democracy.html">Regional parties' stake in deepening democracy</a><br /><br /><a href="../content/233459/upas-troubles-begin.html">UPA's troubles begin</a> <br /><br /><a href="../content/233456/another-scion-faulters-leaving-mission.html">Another scion faulters leaving mission 2014 in jeopardy </a></p>
<p>Samajwadi Party (SP) workers' violent attacks on their political rivals across Uttar Pradesh even before their ‘hero’ and leader Akhilesh Yadav assumed office of the chief minister in India's biggest state, not only underscores the fear that occupied the mind of the common people in the state but also poses a huge challenge before the young leader, who steered his party to a resounding victory in the assembly polls.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Largely credited for bringing his party in tune with the changing social mindset and making it popular among the tech savvy urban and the aspiring rural youth, Akhilesh will be required to display political acumen and leadership skill to take along the old socialists and the younger generation and keep both in good spirits.<br /><br />The immediate challenge before Akhilesh will certainly be law and order and make sure that the ‘goonda raj’ (rule of criminals), that made a comeback with the SP rule in the past and was largely responsible for the defeat of the party in the 2007 assembly polls, did not return as feared by many. He would also have to take some tough measures to take the state on the road to progress.<br /><br />The SP's ‘heir apparent' will be hard pressed to implement the election manifesto of the party, that included distribution of free lap tops and tablets to the Class 10 and 12th pass outs, doling out unemployment allowance of Rs 1,000 to every unemployed youth and free power to the farmers. According to the experts, the new regime will require Rs 70,000 crore to fully implement the manifesto.<br /><br />Party leaders here say that Mulayam Singh Yadav now wants to focus on national politics. “The party feels that it has a good chance of becoming a major force in the next Lok Sabha polls,'' the leaders said. “We aim to win 50-55 seats in the next general elections...and who knows with a weak Congress...anything is possible,” they felt.<br /><br />There also are talks about the revival of the Third Front comprising Mulayam Singh, Mamata Banerjee, Nitish Kumar, Navin Patnaik, Chandra Babu Naidu and Jayalalitha and some other smaller outfits. Clearly the responsibility of keeping the hopes of the party alive in the 2014 Lok Sabha election will be on Akhilesh. “If he does not deliver, we may not do that well,” the leaders said.<br /><br />It remains to be seen if the young and tech savvy SP leader delivers on the promises and carries his party to newer heights.</p>.<p>Related Stories <br /><br /><a href="../content/233458/regional-parties-stakes-deepening-democracy.html">Regional parties' stake in deepening democracy</a><br /><br /><a href="../content/233459/upas-troubles-begin.html">UPA's troubles begin</a> <br /><br /><a href="../content/233456/another-scion-faulters-leaving-mission.html">Another scion faulters leaving mission 2014 in jeopardy </a></p>
