Mulayam offers plum posts to leaders denied party ticket

Lucknow, Mar 16 (UNI) To contain rebellion among party cadres ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly poll, Samajwadi Party supremo and Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today announced more than 2,000 plum posts to those denied ticket.

''You should maintain unity and let the official party candidate win. If the party returns to power with full majority then those denied ticket will be accordingly accomodated,'' he said addressing a small gathering of ticket seekers in the party office here.

''There are more than 2,000 plum posts, including that of the chairperson of the district level mandi parishads, which would be distributed among leaders, who could not be accomodated by the party in the assembly poll,'' he said adding this could only be achieved with the unity in the party rank and file to gain absolute majority.

Alleging Congress' conspiracy to target SP and his kin, the CM said now the party wanted him and his family in jail. ''Now, only unity among SP leaders and workers can help us succeed.'' He claimed UP had become the top Indian state to manage surplus revenue even after announcing several people-oriented sops, but the entire opposition is united against the SP government.

Mr Yadav further alleged Congress had distributed money in Punjab to purchase vote, but still they were defeated.

''Congress can take the help of even the communal forces to prevent us from returning to power in UP,'' he commented.

Meanwhile, the party has finalised the candidates list in the state and is likely to announce it by this evening.

UNI