SP leader announces to contest state president polls: SP state convention tomorrow

Lucknow, Sep 22: A day before the state convention of the Samajwadi Party, which will elect its new state president, a worker has announced to contest the elections creating a problem for the party which had decided to continue Naresh Uttam on the post. Israr Ullah Siddique, a member of the state executive, in a letter to party president Akhilesh Yadav, today demanded to announce the programme of state president elections so that he can file his nominations. The letter said the party has not announced any programme for the elections. "As I want to contest the state president polls hence the party's national president should intervene and announce the programme of the election schedule so that I can file my nominations," he said. Tomorrow, SP would elect its new state president for five years while Mr Yadav is set to become the national president on October 5 during its national convention in Agra. The party has also amended its norms and now instead of three years, the state and national president would be elected for five years. Meanwhile, SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and his younger brother Shivpal Singh Yadav have not been invited for tomorrow's state convention here. However, no SP leader was ready to talk on the issue. SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said 8th state convention was going to be organised tomorrow at the Rama Bai Ambedkar Maidan where more than 15,000 workers will participate. Enthusiastic workers were working hard to make convention successful. Hoarding and banners along with big cut outs of SP ideologue Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya, Janeshwar Mishra and others were installed in the city for convention. He added that convention will start by 0945 hrs with flag hoisting by Mr Akhilesh Yadav. Convention will start at 1000 hrs after the national anthem. After some cultural programmes, the SP president will address the gathering at 1100 hrs. Mr Chaudhary said the convention will be concluded with the address of SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav at 1700 hrs in the evening. UNI