Samajwadi Party in gear for 2014 Lok Sabha polls, decides not to field MLAs

LUCKNOW: Hoping to repeat its assembly poll success, Samajwadi Party today decided not to field sitting MLAs in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, besides finalising names of observers for 58 constituencies to decide on prospective candidates.

"At the meeting of senior party leaders chaired by party Supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, it has been decided in principle not to field sitting MLAs in the Loksabha polls," party general secretary Ramasrey Khushwaha told reporters here.

The names of party observers for 58 constituencies have also been finalised and they have been asked to submit their report on prospective candidates by month end.

The party has already collected applications from candidates for 2014 Lok Sabha election tickets and over 900 persons have so far expressed their desire to contest polls, party sources said.

"With a view to repeat the success it got in assembly polls in 2014 Lok Sabha polls too, party wants to declare candidates early so that they can get time to work in their respective constituencies," they said.

The party has already activated its cadre for "Mission 2014" and stickers of "Lakshya 2014" in which Mulayam and Akhilesh are seen prominently with Lok Sabha in the background have already been distributed among them.

Among those present in the meeting were Ram Gopal Yadav and cabinet minister Ahmad Hasan.