SP gives war cry for 2007 assembly polls

Lucknow, Nov 25: Giving a clarion call of 'do or die' to party workers in its quest for retaining power in Uttar Pradesh, the ruling Samajwadi Party today kicked off its election campaign for the 2007 assembly polls in the state.

Announcing to take head-on, the Congress' ''conspiracy'' in delaying UP assembly polls, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today charged Congress with manipulation for holding elections after May 14 next year, the date when the current state assmebly term expires.

''SP would never allow this Congress' design to succeed,'' he said addressing the specially convened party convention here this afternoon.

Amid opposition demand of President's Rule in UP, widening rift between Raj Bhawan and the government and speculation of Ajit Singh's RLD withdrawing support from the government, the SP leadership comprising its supremo Mr Yadav, general secretary Amar Singh, Janeshwar Mishra, Mohd Azam Khan, Shivpal Singh Yadav and Mohan Singh declared launching a decisive battle ahead of polls.

The SP leaders targeted Raj Bhawan, Governor T V Rajeswar, Congress, BJP, BSP for having ganged up against it. The convention also saw former prime minister V P Singh's Jan Morcha being added to the SP's list of political foes. It was lambasted for launching a malafide campaign against the ruling dispensation in UP.

The CM, sparing nothing against the Governor, said ''Elections are not won through Raj Bhawan as proved in Bihar,'' he said alleging the Raj Bhawan in UP was being used for political purposes by the opposition, mainly Congress.

Taking strong exception to the Governor's recent comments on the UP Police and the state government's functioning, Mr Yadav said such attitude was not expected of gubernatorial posts. ''The Raj Bhawan should not be used as a political tool.'' He claimed the 2007 UP assembly polls would have telling effect on the polity in other states as well.

Exhorting partymen to shun groupism and internal bickering, he urged them to show full devotion to see SP retaining power. ''The challenge of Congress, BJP, BSP and Jan Morcha combine can be repulsed only with your (party workers) might,'' he asserted.

Blaming the Congress for conspiring to dismiss his government to pave way for the central rule, the CM dared the party (Congress) to do so and warned it of the consequences, which would land even the central government in a troubled spot.

Advising partymen not to be disconcerted by the ''joint misinformation campaign'' launched by the BJP, BSP and Congress, the SP chief asserted SP was potent enough to counter these forces and thwart any challenge posed by them.

Referring to his government favouring assembly polls in February, the CM said while the SP was confident to approach people anytime, other parties were on the shaky ground, hence delayed poll dates were being manoeuvred by them.

At his attacking best, Mr Yadav said it was unfortunate the opposition parties called him and senior party leader Amar Singh as 'dalals' (brokers). ''If I open my mouth, it would be known to everyone, who is really the broker,'' he fumed.

SP general secretary and UP Development Council chairperson Amar Singh, raising the issue of political interference by the Raj Bhawan, said the Governor always tried to make 'false' allegations against the state government.

''The Governor is trying to enforce global theory by levelling 1,000 false allegations against the government, so that it seems true,'' he added. Mr Singh also alleged all the government offices and other places had been 'bugged' by the Raj Bhawan for snooping on talks between the politicians and officials.

Delivering an emotional speech, state urban development minister Mohd Azam Khan asked the Muslims why they did not support SP in the just concluded civic polls, when only Mulayam had delivered for the community. Giving examples of Mr Yadav favouring the Muslims, Mr Khan asserted the community should continue to support SP, otherwise the ''communal forces'' would only stand to gain as they did in the urban local body elections in UP.

Surprisingly, assembly speaker Mata Prasad Pandey also spoke on the occasion claiming no government in the past had done such development work in the state.

SP Maharashtra president Abu Hashim said Muslims were being targeted in his state in the name of terrorism and blamed the Congress government for unleashing a reign of terror.

SP general secretary and Lok Sabha member Mohan Singh in his speech alleged the Centre was misusing the CBI against the CM and alleged Raj Bhawan had turned into a ''police reporting chowki.'' ''As Mr B R Ambedkar had said Governor is the watchdog of a state, but in UP, it has turned into a biting dog,'' he observed.

The leader further said Congress president Sonia Gandhi was leading a tirade against Muslims in the country.

The convention was also addressed by state minister Shivpal Singh Yadav, SP state president Ramsharan Das among others.

Earlier, a three-page political resolution was read out by SP leader Brij Bhushan Tiwari detailing the ''conspiracy'' by opposition parties to target SP in the assembly elections.

The resolution was adopted by voice vote.

UNI