The Samajwadi Party is all set to undertake a major surgical operation in the party.
The Samajwadi Party is all set to undertake a major surgical operation in the party.
More than 70 sitting MLAs in the ruling party are all set to lose their tickets for the 2017 Assembly elections which means that almost one-third of the party MLAs will be shown the door.
According to highly-placed sources, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, who is also the state president of the Samajwadi Party, had recently commissioned a survey through independent agencies of all Assembly segments and it is on this basis that a large chunk of sitting MLAs will be denied tickets.
However, the decision on these seats will be announced in November when the final date for the elections will be known. The Samajwadi Party leaders, apparently, do not wish to destabilise the government before the polls. The party has announced 143 candidates on seats that it had lost in 2012 but has decided not to announce tickets on its sitting seats
“We have collected reports of each constituency through party workers, private and official sources. Several legislators have been found lacking in their performance. They do not interact with the common people, have failed to solve their problems and even misbehave with local party workers. Some legislators have been found to be indulging in largescale corruption and the chief minister has taken a stern view of this. These MLAs have been put in the ‘black list’ and may be denied a ticket this time”, said a senior party functionary.
The party high command wants to deal firmly with those legislators who have been undisciplined and corrupt.
“These are unpardonable offences in politics. Some of the legislators have even been warned by the party leaders but they refused to mend their ways. Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav has repeatedly warned such elements and those who have failed to mend their way will now face the axe,” the functionary said.
Besides, the call details of over two dozen ministers and legislators, given to the chief minister by his sources, have shown that these leaders are in constant touch with top BJP leaders.
It is obvious that these ministers and MLAs are searching for greener pastures and since the Samajwadi Party leaders are aware of this, they are keen to teach the “disloyal” leaders a lesson.
Moreover, by changing candidates in these constituencies, the Samajwadi leadership also wants to dilute the anti-incumbency factor.
Reports of some MLAs being denied tickets, has expectedly make almost all the MLAs restive.
“If tickets are being denied, the party should inform us in advance. If our tickets are cancelled at the last minute, it would amount to betrayal”, said a senior party MLA.
