Samajwadi Party action plan for 2017 Assembly polls kick starts on Feb 7

Lucknow, Feb 6: Ruling Samajwadi Party will kick-start its action plan for the 2017 Assembly elections from tomorrow by launching block-level campaigns and propagating government's schemes to counter what the party fears is the growing influence of the BJP in the state.

"The party's state-wide campaign will be launched tomorrow and will continue till February 15. During the campaign, work done by the government will be highlighted and attempts will be made to connect with the people and feel their pulse," SP General Secretary Arvind Singh Gope said today.

"We will try to know the expectations of the people as their feedback will be important in achieving 'Mission 2017' and forming government again," he said.

From tomorrow, SP leaders will fan out in different parts of the state and propagate government's schemes to ensure that its grass-root set up is "well oiled" to take on a resurgent BJP.

The party, which is keen on repeating its performance of 2012, has also directed ministers not to neglect party workers, who are the backbone of the organisation.

In 2012, SP had won 224 seats in the 403-member Assembly, but the party has since seen its popularity wane, and in last year's Lok Sabha polls, it won only five of the 80 seats in the state.

The BJP swept the state by winning 73 seats along with allies. Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has already warned ministers to mend their ways and not to overlook the party organisation and workers otherwise they could also be sacked from the ministry.

"Ministers must spend more time in their respective districts and constituencies and listen to the grievances of leaders at the grass-root level," Yadav had said at a party meet here yesterday.

On BJP's challenge in the polls ahead, Gope said people of the state were aware that SP alone could defeat communal forces. The party has also decided to launch a massive membership drive to expand its base.

PTI