Mulayam’s ‘samajwad’ now seeks to encompass labourers

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“We will be organising the labourers’ rally on May 1 as our party has done a lot for the community. Our president Mulayam Singh Yadav, too, has always taken up their cause. We expect overwhelming response,” said Rajendra Choudhary, SP’s state spokesperson.

Ironically, while SP claims to be a party of “mazdoor aur kisan (labourers and farmers)”, it never could make any inroads in the labourer segment. Even its Labour Cell is lying defunct for past several years. None of the industrial establishments in Uttar Pradesh have any labour unions affiliated to SP unlike BJP and Congress, which have a strong presence with Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and Indian National Trade Union Congress, respectively. Several unions affiliated to Left Front parties, too, are active in state.

Mulayam has asked state Labour Minister Shahid Manzoor to prepare a list of welfare schemes launched by the Akhilesh government, which will be highlighted during the rally. Several schemes such as distribution of free cycles, free food to labourers, crèche for their children at work sites, and life insurance have been introduced by the government.

SP leaders claimed that despite doing a lot for the labourer community, party has failed to capitalise on the good work. SP has drawn up the strategy to tap the labourers by pitching Mulayam as their leader. It is also preparing a dossier of “central government’s anti-labourer actions”, which will be highlighted during the rally.

For further highlighting the labourer-friendly face of the party, it has been planned that Akhilesh may announce some sops for them.

Already, cycle distribution to them has become a permanent fixture in most of the Akhilesh’s programmes at district level. Targets are being fixed for every district to bring participants for the rally.