<p>When SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav decided to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Azamgarh, it was a move to contain the BJP’s surge in eastern UP. But after winning the seat, the former chief minister has ignored the people of the district, giving the BJP an opportunity to put up ‘Missing Mulayam’ posters.<br /><br /></p>.<p>About eight months after the 2014 elections, Mulayam had addressed a thanksgiving rally and announced a Rs 2,000-crore development package, but had a tough time explaining his absence from the constituency to the electorate.<br /><br />Mulayam’s lack of interest in his constituency during the ongoing Assembly polls has also left the locals baffled. He has not stepped out of his Saifai belt for campaigning, except for his daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav, who is contesting from Lucknow Cantonment.<br /><br />Ever since his son and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav emerged triumphant in the family feud, Mulayam along with his brother Shivpal Singh Yadav have been sidelined in their own party. The belt has a Muslim-Yadav caste matrix that the SP is banking on to meet the challenge from the BJP and BSP in a triangular contest.<br />To pay back Azamgarh for showing faith in Mulayam, Akhilesh had inducted three ministers from the region. But Durga Prasad Yadav has been retained to defend his Azamgarh Assembly seat. The BSP had managed to hold on to only the Mubarakpur seat in 2012. It lost five others it had won in the 2007 Assembly polls, which was crucial in making party chief Mayawati the chief minister.<br /><br />The BJP, on the other hand, has made its presence felt in the region. Party president Amit Shah held a rally in Atraulia, while Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh addressed voters in Lalganj. Mayawati is also slated to address a gathering at Rani Ki Sarai on Monday.<br /><br />Dimple defines ‘KASAB’<br /><br />SP star campaigner Dimple Yadav on Saturday gave a new meaning to ‘KASAB’, coined by BJP president Amit Shah to describe the rival Congress, SP and BSP, reports DHNS from Lucknow.<br /><br />Addressing a rally at Gonda, Dimple said for the BJP, ‘K’ (in Hindi) stood for ‘computer’, ‘S’ for smartphone and ‘B’ for ‘behne’ (sisters). “BJP leaders communalised even electricity,” said Akhilesh’s wife, referring to the prime minister’s remarks that the state government gave more power on Eid and less on Diwali.</p>
<p>When SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav decided to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Azamgarh, it was a move to contain the BJP’s surge in eastern UP. But after winning the seat, the former chief minister has ignored the people of the district, giving the BJP an opportunity to put up ‘Missing Mulayam’ posters.<br /><br /></p>.<p>About eight months after the 2014 elections, Mulayam had addressed a thanksgiving rally and announced a Rs 2,000-crore development package, but had a tough time explaining his absence from the constituency to the electorate.<br /><br />Mulayam’s lack of interest in his constituency during the ongoing Assembly polls has also left the locals baffled. He has not stepped out of his Saifai belt for campaigning, except for his daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav, who is contesting from Lucknow Cantonment.<br /><br />Ever since his son and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav emerged triumphant in the family feud, Mulayam along with his brother Shivpal Singh Yadav have been sidelined in their own party. The belt has a Muslim-Yadav caste matrix that the SP is banking on to meet the challenge from the BJP and BSP in a triangular contest.<br />To pay back Azamgarh for showing faith in Mulayam, Akhilesh had inducted three ministers from the region. But Durga Prasad Yadav has been retained to defend his Azamgarh Assembly seat. The BSP had managed to hold on to only the Mubarakpur seat in 2012. It lost five others it had won in the 2007 Assembly polls, which was crucial in making party chief Mayawati the chief minister.<br /><br />The BJP, on the other hand, has made its presence felt in the region. Party president Amit Shah held a rally in Atraulia, while Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh addressed voters in Lalganj. Mayawati is also slated to address a gathering at Rani Ki Sarai on Monday.<br /><br />Dimple defines ‘KASAB’<br /><br />SP star campaigner Dimple Yadav on Saturday gave a new meaning to ‘KASAB’, coined by BJP president Amit Shah to describe the rival Congress, SP and BSP, reports DHNS from Lucknow.<br /><br />Addressing a rally at Gonda, Dimple said for the BJP, ‘K’ (in Hindi) stood for ‘computer’, ‘S’ for smartphone and ‘B’ for ‘behne’ (sisters). “BJP leaders communalised even electricity,” said Akhilesh’s wife, referring to the prime minister’s remarks that the state government gave more power on Eid and less on Diwali.</p>
