The Samajwadi Party (SP) national president and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, on Sunday, released the election manifesto at the party headquarters. However, the sheen of the function was marred by the conspicuous absence of party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh's uncle Shivpal.
Despite strong claims by both Mulayam and Akhilesh that all was well between the father and son, evidence suggests otherwise. The senior SP minister Azam Khan, who is said to be friendly with both Mulayam and Akhilesh, went to Mulayam’s house to take him to the function, but Mulayam refused to come to the party office.
Speaking on the occasion, Akhilesh said, “Whatever we had promised in our 2012 manifesto, we fulfilled. I am determined to fulfil all the promises made in our current manifesto.”
Highlights of the manifesto included smart phones for students, laptops, Kanya Vidya Dhan and 108 Ambulance schemes — made more comprehensive to encompass more beneficiaries. Major emphasis of his manifesto is on the poor and downtrodden sections of the society.
Some promises in this regard include wheat and rice for the poor, Rs 1000 pension per month for one crore people, 50 percent exemption for women travelling in UPSRTC buses, free pressure cookers for women, metro in Kanpur and Varanasi. He has also promised ghee and one litre milk for children hailing from economically backward sections.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that there was no gap between theory and practice in his party. Whatever SP had promised to the people, it has accomplished.
