UP Assembly polls: Eye on repeat term, Akhilesh won’t repeat 70 sitting MLAs

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Nearly a week ago, Akhilesh had met around 100 youth leaders, where he reportedly asked them to nurture their constituencies keeping in mind the 2017 polls. On June 22, Akhilesh had called the state presidents of four youth frontal organisations — Atul Pradhan, Brijesh Yadav, Pradeep Tiwari and Mohammad Ebad — to discuss the strategy for the elections.

“The CM categorically told us that senior leaders have tarnished the image of the youth workers by accusing them of minting money. We had a detailed discussion with him and he was satisfied. We have been asked to choose our Assembly constituency and begin work,” a youth leader who had met Akhilesh told The Indian Express.

On Wednesday, Mohammad Ebad — state president of Mulayam Singh Youth Brigade — met Akhilesh with a delegation of Zari artisans. Ebad is reportedly eyeing a party ticket in Old Lucknow and Zari artisans constitute the bulk of his voters.

Sources said Sunil Singh Sajan and Anand Bhadauria, state executive committee members of SP, have been assured that they will contest MLC polls from Lucknow-Unnao and Sitapur constituencies. Santosh Yadav, another youth leader from Ghazipur, is aspiring for a MLC seat in Ghazipur — elections for which will be held in January next year.

Moreover, most roads under the Twarit Arthik Vikas Yojana are being sanctioned on the recommendations of youth leaders. Akhilesh has reportedly asked youth leaders to submit their list of development works in their constituencies. The works include electrification of villages, selection of villages under Janeshwar Mishra Gram Vikas Yojana, construction of roads and small bridges — all of which have been the prerogative of the sitting MLAs till now.