Gird up loins against 'communal forces': Mulayam to SP leaders

Asking party leaders to gird up their loins to counter "communal forces" in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today directed them to go closer to workers at the grassroots level and prepare a roadmap to retain power in the state.
In a loud and clear message to ministers, he said mere good performance of the government will not suffice. "The achievements of the government have to be conveyed to the masses and more than that ministers should connect with workers at the grassroots level so that they do not feel neglected," he said.
"After all, party workers are the backbone of the organisation," he said at a brain-storming strategy session of the ruling party's newly reconstituted state executive.

SP had won 224 seats in the 403-member UP Assembly and it is high time to work together to repeat the grand performance, he said.
"To ensure this, SP leaders to go closer to workers at the lower rung of the organisation," he said in a veiled warning to minister who kept themselves away from their electors.
"Ministers must spend more time in their respective districts and constituencies and listen to the grievances of leaders at the grassroots level," he said.

The state executive meet was attended by SP National General Secretary Ramgopal Yadav and state unit president Akhilesh Yadav, besides other senior leaders.

With BJP's victory in 71 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh weighing heavily on his mind, Mulayam asked partymen to stand united to crush "communal forces" in the 2017 Assembly polls.
"SP alone can defeat communal forces. People of the state know it. You (party leaders) should stand united and fight these forces," he said.