Dimple Yadav makes Akhilesh sit up and listen

Newly elected MP from Mainpuri, Tej Pratap Singh Yadav, praised Akhilesh for good governance.

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav and Azam Khan during party’s Three-Day Convention in Lucknow on Wednesday. (Source: PTI)

It was the turn of Samajwadi Party’s second generation to take centrestage on Thursday, the second day of the party’s ninth national convention in Lucknow.

Dimple Yadav, Akshay Yadav and Tej Pratap Singh Yadav, while addressing participants at a training session during the convention, made a few candid suggestions, raised some serious social and health issues, and evoked laughter. SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav patiently listened to his daughter-in-law Dimple, nephew Akshay and grand nephew Tej Pratap.

During Dimple’s speech, the delegates burst into laughter as she addressed her husband Akhilesh Yadav as “CM saheb”. Lauding the welfare schemes undertaken by the Akhilesh Yadav government, she suggested, “The government and our party organisation should work towards issues such as child malnutrition, girl empowerment, female foeticide and women safety.”

Akhilesh, who was in the audience, listened to his wife’s advice.

The Kannauj MP also praised the government for “drastically reducing” infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate in the state.

“I wish that SP strengthens its organisation in other states and there is a network across the country. It is our responsibility to take forward the good work done by our government,” she said.

Akshay, Ramgopal Yadav’s son, admitted that sitting in the Lok Sabha had become difficult due to the depleted strength of the party. “We won only five seats… The scene was different as in the same Lok Sabha, we once had up to 40 members. Now, whenever Netaji (Mulayam) stands up to speak, the BJP MPs and others do not allow him to,” the Firozabad MP said.

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“After review of our poll defeat, Netaji had forgiven everyone, including those who betrayed him. But workers want action against them,” he stated. He also complained to his cousin Akhilesh about corruption prevalent in his government.

Newly elected MP from Mainpuri, Tej Pratap Singh Yadav, praised Akhilesh for good governance. “He is fulfilling promises. But mediapersons glorify only Modi as the biggest patriot, and project every act of Modi as an act of nation building,” he said. He also expressed concern over the condition of the poor in the state.