Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav embarked on the first phase of Vikas Rath Yatra from capital Lucknow on Thursday, but not before a clash among workers of his Samajwadi Party, reminding that all is still not well within the outfit that wants to retain power in next year's assembly elections.
The clash was reminiscent of a similar incident that took place when Yadav was sworn in as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in March 2012.
The Vikash Rath Yatra was flagged off by Akhilesh's father and party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav from Lucknow's La Martiniere grounds in the presence of Shivpal Singh Yadav, with whom the chief minister is having a bitter feud.
Earlier, Akhilesh spoke of his government's achievements while addressing party workers.
"We have heralded an era of progress and development in the state and I am confident that the people will elect a Samajwadi Party government again," he told the gathering, reports IANS.
To reveal poll promises
In an interview to news agency ANI, Akhilesh said during the course of the Vikas Rath Yatra, he will also share his party's plans should it win a second term when elections are held next year.
"Through this Vikas Yatra, we will also share the plans we have for the state after once again forming the government. So this is an attempt to make contact with people, win their support and talk to them so that we are able to win the next elections with a huge mandate," he told the agency.
The Vikas Rath Yatra comes at a time when the BJP is fancing chances of a victory, riding on the power struggle within the Samajwadi Party and a weakened Congress, though the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is a strong contender the BJP will have to face.
