The political battle of father and son in Uttar Pradesh is having sudden brush with truth. The Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is trying to come up with a new way beyond the combative and corrupt politics of his father and uncle. Akhilesh’s supporters are trying to connote this entire spat as Young vs. Old. Akhilesh has jumped headlong into electoral fray with all his achievements and aspirations.
But like drowning man he is trying to catch at straws. He is keeping his options open about aligning with Congress. For that he has stepped up communication with Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. In order to swing Jat vote, he has suddenly become interested in coalition with Chaudhury Ajit Singh’s Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD).
His father and uncle Shivpal are quite experienced in the game of politics. They have old friends and power of organization and a trump card in Amar Singh. If they lack anything it is freshness and vigour of Akhilesh Yadav’s persona. This is why the duo has chosen Netaji’s second son Prateek who is also young and enthusiastic with all the traits of his father. Mulayam who usually avoids being seen in public with Prateek has recently inaugurated a gym for Prateek. Mulayam has made his first move. In response, Akhilesh too has moved out of Mulayam’s house into the chief ministerial residence and has also decided to operate out of so far defunct office of Janeshwar Mishra Trust, instead of Samajwadi Party’s office.
A wrestler turned politician Mulayam has been proficient in all the strategies and intricacies of politics. But when the battle is with son, it becomes difficult to carry the fight with same zeal.