Mulayam completes three years in office

Lucknow, Aug 28: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav tomorrow completes three years in office, thus becoming fourth politician in the state's history to remain in office for such a ''long'' period.

This is Mr Yadav's third term in office but this is for the first time that he could complete three years.

Samajwadi Party supremo is the lone non-Congress leader to occupy the Chief Minister's post for more than three years. Congress Chief Ministers Govind Ballab Pant, Dr Sampurnand and Sucheta Kripalani were the only leaders to have completed more than three years in office, between 1946-67.

During his earlier two tenures, Mr Yadav occupied the office for 19 months in 1989-91 (first term) and for 18 months in 1993-95. He took over as the Chief Minister for the fourth time on August 29, 2003, after Ms Mayawati resigned on August 23, 2003.

Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party has decided to celebrate the third anniversary of the present government in a simple way by organising political conferences and a 'cycle yatra' to highlight the achievements of the dispensation in view of the coming Assembly elections.

Unemployment allowances to the youth, Kanya vidyadhan, old age pension, free sarees for married women living below poverty line, scholarships and several other facilities implemented by the government would be the high points of the celebrations.

The occasion would also enable the SP workers to hightlight the investments made in the state particularly in the sugar, IT and power sectors.

According to state SP officials, Chief Minister along with other senior leaders like Amar Singh and Janeshwar Mishra will participate in a conference in the party headquarters at the state capital.

In the morning, the Samajwadi youth wings would bring out cycle yatra from all the towns and cities of the state to highlight the achievement of the government.

In all the district headquarters, party leaders would hold meeting to celebrate the occasion.

UNI