JOIN USAkhilesh set to become Uttar Pradesh CM
Although a formal announcement will be made on Saturday after a meeting of the newly elected Samajwadi Party legislators, party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav’s son Akhilesh Yadav appeared all set to become the next chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.
According to senior SP leaders here, a broad consensus has already emerged over Akhilesh’s name for the top post. “Mulayam Singh Yadav spoke to the senior leaders and persuaded them to accept Akhilesh as the chief minister,” the leaders said.
Yadav met senior Muslim leader Azam Khan, said to be opposed to the idea, and reportedly prevailed upon him.
“Khan may be offered the post of the Assembly Speaker,” they said.
“Akhilesh Yadav will be formally elected leader of the SP legislature party in Saturday’s meeting.” the leaders said.
Earlier, an “evasive” Akhilesh himself dropped hints that he was inching closer to the top post in the state. “There is only one post and only one man can get it. Just wait till tomorrow and you will know,” Akhilesh who is being credited with the victory of the party, said. His father and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav also said the same thing.
The younger “Yadav” was not very forthcoming on the issue and unlike the previous occasions not very categorical either. Till the other day, he said that the post would go to “Netaji” (a term used by the SP leaders and workers to address Mulayam Singh Yadav) as a majority of the party workers wanted him to become the chief minister.
Akhilesh had been issuing instructions to district officials on maintaining law and order in the wake of post-election violence by SP workers.
“The leaders, who are opposed to Akhilesh occupying the top post, are likely to propose his name for the leader of the legislature party in Saturday’s meeting,” the sources revealed.