New Delhi: More than two months after the Samajwadi Party’s crushing defeat in the Uttar Pradesh assembly election, former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has begun to rebuild the SP by trying to expand its outreach. The party, which was reduced to 47 seats in the 403-seat assembly in a surge by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is now holding membership drives across the state to expand its base. When Akhilesh Yadav was the chief minister he was busy with official work and hence he had very limited time to meet people. The SP’s chief’s efforts to strengthen the party also come in the backdrop of a deepening rift in the party. “With the loss in the recent election and the threat of a split in SP looming large, Akhilesh Yadav needs to keep the party together.

Source: Mint May 28, 2017 17:37 UTC