Message from grassroot workers worries Mulayam

Lok sabha polls District chiefs say two-third candidates may end up losing.

For the Yadav clan — Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav, his son and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, cousin and party general secretary Ramgopal Yadav and brother Shivpal Yadav — it was a reality check on Wednesday when several district presidents told them that the candidates announced by the party for the next Lok Sabha elections will end up in the losing side.

A worried Mulayam assured them that he would look into the matter, sources said. The SP has already declared 63 candidates of the total 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP.

Perhaps to assuage the feelings of partymen, Mulayam asked them to keep a tab on the performance of ministers of the state government in their areas and even hinted that some of the ministers could be shown the door. He was addressing a meeting of district and city unit presidents at the party headquarters on Wednesday where the party's 94 district and city unit chiefs were present.

At the start of the meeting, Ramgopal asked those office-bearers to stand up who were sure about the victory of the party candidates in their area. Only 24 stood up, sources said.

"I have got the message and it is also for the party leadership to see the reality. We will discuss it and also have one-to-one interaction with office bearers," Ramgopal reportedly said.

Sources said the response of district and city presidents surprised Mulayam and Akhilesh also, while Shivpal nodded in disappointment. "I can understand your problems. I will meet you personally to sort things out. We will consider your suggestions and presidents will be given time separately," Mulayam remarked.

Turning to the performance of the ministers, Mulayam reportedly said, "I know who is earning how much in this government. What is the performance of the ministers? Some of them need to be changed."

... contd.

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