The SP supremo has come to realize that his son Akhilesh has to improve the governance in Uttar Pradesh for inducing the voters and he cannot do justice to the Government work as the Chief Minister if he has to go into the dynamics of the crucial elections. So he has freed Akhilesh to a big extent from the election work and asked him to focus on administration so that the SP campaign can campaign on the development issue and the efficiency of the administration.

Mulayam Singh Yadav has realized that Shivpal Yadav has more experience to deal with the party affairs and he is in touch with the party workers at grass roots level. He is popular in districts and at this moment, he is the best leader of SP to coordinate the election campaign. The SP supremo has started praising the achievements of the state government and he is mentioning the hard work of his Chief Minister son Akhilesh. This is quite opposite to the recent past when he was constantly critical of the failures of the state administration. But since, the assembly poll is due next year, the SP chief is not giving any scope to the opposition parties to criticize the UP government.

Samajwadi Party has also taken lead over rivals in making announcement of list of party candidates. Shivpal Yadav released the list of 142 candidates on those seats which party had lost in 2012 assembly polls. He said that party would announce remaining 26 seats lost in 2012 elections after seeking approval from supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. it would be worth mentioning here that there are 402 seats in assembly. The exercise is on to find suitable candidates for other seats, Shivpal Yadav announced.

Significantly enough, this list also includes two MLAs from Peace Party who later on shifted to Samajwadi Party. Mulayam Singh Yadav has also given ticket to son in law of Imam Bhukhari of Delhi Jama Masjid. Uma Ali Khan is MLC but he had lost in 2012 assembly polls. He has now got ticket from Behat in Saharanpur. Samajwadi Party changed 85 tickets from 2012 assembly polls in the list and adjusted party hoppers also as tickets were given to those who came from Congress and those who contested as independents.

Overall, the list includes 28 Muslims, 18 Yadavs, 15 Thakurs, 11 Brahmins, six candidates each from Gujar, Kurmi and Jat communities, 23 Schedule Castes and 14 Other Backward Castes.

Braving the scorching sun, Samajwadi Party leaders and cadres set out on May 1 on a 10-day long 'Cycle Yatra' campaign in view of the 2017 Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

All the party MLAs, ex MLAs, ex MPs, district presidents and leaders of all front organisations have been asked to participate in the yatra in their respective city, town, block and villages of their respective constituencies. Samajwadi Party is utilising this cycle yatra to spread the message of good achievements of Akhilesh Yadav government during last four years to masses all over the state.

The SP is working hard to showcase brand Akhilesh as model for good governance and development while taking up the challenge of law and order situation which is being exploited by the opposition parties. (IPA Service)