New Delhi, Oct 23 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today said that Samajwadi Party more popular than many national parties and has more numbers and support.
Speaking to mediapersons after inaugurating the new foundation stone for the party's new office in the National Capital, Akhilesh Yadav said that the popularity of the Samajwadi party had been escalating since their triumphant return to power in Uttar Pradesh.
"The public support for Samajwadi party is increasing with each passing day. People are continuing to join the party and it is achieving repeated success. Technically the Samajwadi Party is not national it is a regional party. But if we look at the numbers and support, Samajwadi party is bigger than many other national political units," said Akhilesh Yadav.
In India, where caste and family play hugely important roles in politics, the Yadavs have several advantages. They are from a land-owning lower caste whose members were mostly subsistence farmers and cattle herders, but have become wealthier, more politically aware and socially assertive in recent decades.
Yadav, his daughter-in-law Dimple, a cousin and a nephew are Members of Parliament (MPs). A brother is in the Uttar Pradesh state government headed by Akhilesh.
On the negative side, the party is anathema for other lower caste groups. Critics also say it is tarred by association with people who have criminal pasts, and previous Samajwadi Party rule in Uttar Pradesh brought rampant corruption and increased violence.
Akhilesh is often compared to the scion of that dynasty, Rahul Gandhi, whose Congress party was burned by the Samajwadi win in the Uttar Pradesh elections earlier this year. He dismisses talk of rivalry or probable cooperation.
Senior Samajwadi party leader, Ram Gopal Yadav said that the party was aiming for atleast 60 seats in the 2014 elections, putting them in the position to orchestrate the formation of the ruling government. (ANI)
