SP wants 2019 to be Akhilesh v/s Modi contest

Lucknow: Unfazed by its poor performance in the recent municipal elections, the Samajwadi Party is preparing to project its president Akhilesh Yadav as the face of the Opposition against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

“Akhilesh Yadav, as former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, has proved his mettle as an able administrator with a vision for development. His leadership is unparalleled and his popularity among the youth soaring. He is the only leader who can challenge the BJP,” said SP state president Naresh Uttam.

Party strategists have already ruled out Congress as an ally in the 2019 and are not perturbed by the possible resistance from the grand old party to  the idea of Mr Yadav becoming the face of Opposition in 2019 polls.

Samajwadi Party leaders feel that projection of Mr Yadav against Prime Minister Modi would not only give the former a national status but also increase the party’s acceptability in other states. Moreover, with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar having crossed over to the BJP side, there is a vacuum in the secular space to take on Mr Modi.

“Mr Yadav is bound to shine at the national level. He is visionary, young and secular. His popularity remains unchanged despite the fact that we lost the Assembly elections. He is one leader who does not have any blot on his image and is known for his personal integrity. What more does one need to become a national leader?” asked Samajwadi Party leader and former state minister Arvind Singh Gope.

 The former chief minister has already started building bridges with “secular and like-minded leaders in other states” and his recent meeting with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is a step in this direction.

Samajwadi Party leaders feel that they are not looking at an alliance with the Congress in the 2019 elections but say it is important to maintain a friendly relationship with it.

A senior SP leader said, “Mr Rahul Gandhi, as Congress president, may not be acceptable to others as the face against Mr Modi in 2019 but Mr Yadav definitely will be. However, we are not burning bridges with the Congress because we may need to give or take support in the post-poll scenario”.

However, the decision to project the Samajwadi Party chief as the Opposition’s face against the ruling BJP is bound to lead to a conflict of interest with the Congress which still remains the largest Opposition party.

As Mr Gandhi will be the natural Prime Ministerial candidate of the Congress in 2019 and his party has already started working to achieve the objective.

“The manner in which Mr Gandhi has single-handed managed the Gujarat campaign and has given the BJP a run for its money, proves his capability. Being a national party, he is our only choice for the post of Prime Minister and we are confident that he will be leading the nation in 2019,” said UPCC president Raj Babbar.

Mr Babbar however declined to comment on the SP’s proposed projection of Mr Yadav for the top job.

The SP move is also sure to rankle the BSP which is poised for a new run after its recent victory in UP municipal polls. Reacting to the SP decision, a senior BSP functionary said, “Behenji (Mayawati) is the only leader with a pan-India presence. If there has to be a Prime Ministerial candidate from the Opposition, it has to be her”.

The Samajwadi Party has five MPs in Lok Sabha. In 2009, it had won 23 seats. The BSP had 20 MPs in 2009 but drew a blank in 2014.