SP celebrates Mulayam's b'day in style, CM missing from functions

Lucknow, Nov 22 (UNI) The ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh today celebrated the 68th birthday of party president and Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav by organising a variety of programmes.

The CM, himself, remained inconspicuous by his absence at the celebrations.

Besides holding community feasts for poor children and the elderly, the youth wing of the party cut a 68 kg 'laddoo' to mark the occasion.

Several leaders and bureaucrats had lined up at his official residence here since morning. When Mr Yadav reached the legislative assembly to attend the ongoing winter session, he was greeted by officials and fellow MLAs.

For the record, the SP is observing the day as 'Vikas Diwas' across UP. Party leaders have been asked to organise community feasts for the poor. ''They have been asked to avoid pomp and show,'' a SP leader said here.

Hundreds of hoardings and decorated gates had appeared in the state capital recently congratulating the CM on his birthday. But on Mr Yadav's orders, the municipal authorities had removed these. The CM felt the party leaders were using his birthday to publicise themselves through these hoardings.

A report from Basti district said Sant Kabir Nagar SP leader Ram Vriksh celebrated the birthday of the CM inside the Basti jail where a cultural programme was also held. The SP leader is in jail for allegedly murdering a political opponent last year.

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