Mulayam Singh Yadav all praise for former PM Chandra Shekhar

LUCKNOW: With Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav declaring a holiday on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar on Friday, the party has ramped up its efforts to woo the influential Kshatriya community. The party held an impressive function with several ministers in attendance at its office where one leader after another eulogised the late leader.

Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav himself was effusive in his praise for the former PM, calling him a stalwart who lived the Socialist life. “He was respected by all types of politicians and led a very simple life. He never hankered after power and refused many important posts just to keep raising the voice of the poor and downtrodden. He never changed his lifestyle despite being the prime minister. Even after becoming PM, he kept wearing whatever he used to earlier, not like leaders these days.”

The function organised by the SP to honour Chandra Shekhar is being seen by observers as an effort to woo the influential Thakur community. With former high-profile MP Amar Singh out of the party, SP has been trying hard to find a big mascot from the Thakur community. With BJP eyeing the Thakur community whose Rajnath Singh now occupies one of the top posts of home minister, the SP does not want to be behind in identifying with the sizeable community.