LUCKNOW: The Samajwadi Party on Tuesday announced that its national president Akhilesh Yadav will embark on ‘Samajwadi Vijay Yatra’ across the length and breadth of the state in a phased manner from October 12. The Yatra is aimed at connecting with masses at the panchayat and village level. During the Yatra, the SP chief will address rallies in all 75 districts of the state.
Talking to the media shortly after the party’s announcement of the Yatra, Akhilesh said: “We have got an opportunity to take out this Yatra because people are disappointed with the BJP. This time it will be a ‘Vijay Yatra’ (a movement for victory) of the Samajwadi Party.”
SP national spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary, who made the announcement of the Yatra in the first place, said Akhilesh had embarked on similar Yatras during elections in the past as well.
“His first 'Kranti Yatra' as SP state president started from Lucknow on July 31, 2001. In 2011, he took out the 'Samajwadi Party Kranti Rath Yatra' from September 12. This time, as people of the state have already decided to vote the SP to victory, the party has titled it as the ‘Samajwadi Vijay Yatra’ on the requests of party workers,” Chaudhary said. He said the Yatra is being organised to seek a ‘change’ in the state.
Party sources said Akhilesh will release the route map of the Yatra by weekend. While party workers have planned a mega launch of the Yatra on October 12, thereafter the Yatra will continue in phases.
The SP played down the BJP's attack on a poster announcing the launch of Yatra on October 12. “We don't want to get into the BJP's trap. We have our focus clear. We will reach out to people. We will seek BJP's response on their promise of doubling farmers’ income, jobs to youths and such issues. We will seek people's support to remove the BJP and stop crimes, referring to an incident where a Kanpur businessman was beaten to death by police in a Gorakhpur hotel and mowing down of farmers in Lakhimpur,” a senior party leader added.
