With victory, SP workers clash with police

A few hours after Akhilesh Singh Yadav had said that the party would take strict action against anyone indulging in hooliganism, there were reports of scuffles between the police and SP workers in Jhansi and Agra.

Meanwhile in Lucknow, as it became clear that the party was notching a monstrous tally cars flaunting the SP flag and hooters began to race through traffic.

The main reason for the SP loss in the 2007 elections was the poor law and order situation in the state and the perception that it was a party of goons.

On Tuesday, at the party office, Yadav reiterated that strong action would be taken against any party man indulging in hooliganism. “The party will deal strongly with it”, he said,

Despite being the party’s most prominent face in the elections, Yadav reiterated that he was not in the race for becoming CM. “All our leaders and workers want Netaji”, he said disregarding suggestions that a large chunk of the party’s young workers were rooting for him to take the post.

The party’s parliamentary board will meet at 11 am on Wednesday to
settle the issue.

Yadav also registered moral highs. First, by refusing to take a dig at the Congress which had been at the butt of wisecracks by BJP leaders all day. “Someday we lose. Today someone else has lost”, he said.

The second high came in the refusal to pull down the statues that Mayawati had erected in the capital. “These are huge spaces and will be used for public utilities like medical colleges” he said.

It is noteworthy that the party had been accused of diverting development funds to build hospitals and stadia in the Yadav strongholds of Etawah during its earlier regime.

Despite playing the minority quota card, Yadav said that the party had received support from all sections of society. "People of all castes and religions have voted for us", he said.