From cycles to laptops: The make-over of the Samajwadi Party

A new dress code, younger candidates, a tech-savvy image–The Samajwadi Party is trying hard to change its image.

The cycle which once rode with history-sheeters like Atik Ahmed and DP Yadav has now become the launch pad for Cambridge-educated Abhishek Misra. The 34-year-old has quit his job at IIM Ahmedabad to contest the Assembly Elections from Lucknow, reported CNN-IBN.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate from Lucknow said, “Times are changing. The party is making itself relevant to changing times.”

And who is the man driving this change?

Mulayam Singh Yadav’s son Akhilesh Yadav. The 34-year-old has ensured that 122 of the 403 candidates fielded by the party are under the age of 40. Sixty of them are not even 30.

Gone are the days when the party took an anti-English and anti-computer stance, so much so that its ‘Manifesto 2012’ is promising free PC’s and tablets to all students.

Akhilesh said, “There is no harm if kids learn English and computers - this is the way to progress.”

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh commenting on the change said, “Better late than never. Mulayam Singh Yadav was the staunchest opponent of Rajiv Gandhi’s computerisation drive - this change I think is because of young leader Akhilesh.”

The change does not end here.

Pan chewing has been strictly banned and there is a dress code in place–white khadi kurta-pajamas with black leather shoes and socks.

The changes may go down well with the 21st century voters but has the party that was built on Lohia’s Socialist egalitarian dream succumbed to the curse of dynastic politics?

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