The manner in which communal riots were allowed to fester in Muzaffarnagar and neighbouring districts for such a long period and the number of people killed going beyond 50, with over 50,000 now living in refugee camps, have put a big question mark on the ability of Akhilesh Yadav to rule the state that’s facing so many complex problems.

Samajwadi Party, which came to power riding the ‘ummeed ki cycle’ of the 37-year-old Akhilesh Yadav promising change in UP, appears to be fast losing support of the people, who voted for the party en masse.

What could be more damaging than several Muslim organisations now demanding the resignation of the chief minister for his government’s shameful failure to protect the minority community in the riots?

More so, the Muslim organisations also blame Akhilesh Yadav government for large number of communal riots in the state during his regime since March 2012.

At a time when 2014 Lok Sabha polls are not far away the threat of losing support from minorities could be disturbing for Samajwadi Party, Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh Yadav.

It would be worth mentioning here that Samajwadi Party had got full support from all castes, religions and communities in 2012 UP Assembly when people of state were looking for change and replace Mayawati government.

At a time when young chief minister Akhilesh Yadav was busy in implementing sincerely the polls manifesto and distributing laptop and kanya vidya dhan and promises made during the 2012 UP assembly elections, the Muzaffarnagar riots have adversely affected the development agenda of the government.

CM Yadav has also realised the implication of poor law and order and communal riots and said that it would affect the process of investment in the state.

It may be mentioned that CM Yadav had started implementing the development agenda of his government by taking initiative to attract more investment through dialogue with big business houses and foreign investors.

The recent communal riots also exposed the collapse of the administrative machinery, which failed to both prevent the violence, and, later on, control it in time.

The district level administration in Muzaffarnagar, and other neighbouring areas also, collapsed as the situation was allowed to go beyond control, as senior officers remained mute spectators.

What could be more disturbing that out of 50-plus people killed in riots, not a single was killed in police firing, as there was no police action when riots were taking place?

Above all, the reluctance of senior police officials to visit the affected area to control the situation is also not good sign for any government.

The manner in which senior police officer Arun Kumar ADG (law and order) proceeded on leave during riots and his letter to the government seeking a transfer to the centre, also speaks for political interference in the police administration.

The main question being asked in the corridors of power is whether chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had become the victim of conspiracy of certain politicians and bureaucrats to destabilise him. (IPA Service)