Akhilesh Yadav Analysis

-UP Elections: Will Akhilesh Yadav enter into an alliance without his party?

-Faisal Fareed
The recent wrangling within the Samajwadi Party is evolving into an interesting scenario. The candidates announced by the party's state president Shivpal Yadav for the upcoming polls have hardly any leaders from the Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's camp.

Around 80 percent of proclaimed Akhilesh supporters in the present dispensation have failed to find favour with Akhilesh's estranged uncle in the allotment of tickets. These include prominent MLAs and ministers like Ram Govind Chaudhary and Lalai Yadav.

The situation is no different in party organisation where pro-Akhilesh leaders find themselves marginalised. Only the younger lot in the Akhilesh
The Ghazipur rally was also addressed by Shivpal Yadav's son Aditya Yadav.

It was in the midst of these political manoeuvres that political pundits were closely observing Akhilesh Yadav's meeting with 45 party MLAs and ministers on Friday. It led to the fresh round of speculations that the Chief Minister was indeed serious about the prospects of a poll alliance at his own level. One of his close associates has confirmed that Akhilesh Yadav is mulling this option.

The political situation makes alliance necessary for Akhilesh Yadav, be it at party's level or in the form of a new party.

The Chief Minister could make his stand clear in the coming days. However, well-placed sources within the party are saying they would not be surprised if the proposed alliance has Akhilesh Yadav as a constituent, but not the Samajwadi Party. The speculation that leaders brush off with a smile often becomes a reality in politics.

The possibility of a tie-up between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party is gaining ground as the election is approaching near. Although, there has not been any official word yet, but it appears the ice has already melted between the two
He has just returned to the party and might want to stay away from fresh controversy for the sake of his career.

According to senior SP leaders based in Lucknow, only Amar Singh and Mulayam Singh are against fight elections in an alliance. The latter had minced no words in clarifying that he was not in favour of any alliance, although parties are free for the merger with the SP.

Yet, Mulayam Singh Yadav is no stranger to political somersaults as was evident during the Bihar polls when he dragged his feet from the grand alliance at the last moment. This is the reason all parties interested in courting the ruling party are choosing to negotiate with the Chief Minister instead.

Entering into an alliance with SP is a matter of survival for the Congress. There are no signs of party's resurgence despite poll managers like Prashant Kishor. Rahul Gandhi is eyeing the next general elections. The party would not like to face humiliating results in elections that are perceived as the semifinal of the next Lok Sabha elections. There is no support base for the Congress on the ground. It can salvage pride only with the support of a major political player like Samajwadi