Old Martinians
Labore et Constantia
Akhilesh takes oath, SP members go berserk
Minutes after Akhilesh Yadav was sworn in as the 33rd chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in Lucknow on Thursday, Samajwadi Party workers went berserk with excitement.Unmindful of the wrong signals they were sending for the youngest chief minister of the country's most populous state, who is trying to recast his party's age-
As soon as Akhilesh left the venue after being administered the oath of office by Governor B L Joshi, party activists climbed atop the huge dais, unmindful of the fact that they were physically preventing the exit of 47 newly sworn-
Azam Khan, the senior-most member of the new council of ministers, looked visibly angry and even went to the extent of pushing away some of the party men until some security personnel moved in to make an attempt to regulate the unruly crowd.
Even for Akhilesh's father and Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav, it was a tough task to reach his car and move out of the venue.
Other VIPs, specially invited to attend the occasion, also had a tough time wading through the mob that went completely out of control. The chaos that became visible at the very outset of the event continued for nearly an hour after the show.
Other VIPs, specially invited to attend the occasion, also had a tough time wading through the mob that went completely out of control. The chaos that became visible at the very outset of the event continued for nearly an hour after the show.
Excitement grew with every passing minute and soon, exuberant party men stood atop the table on the dais that had been used by the new chief minister and his colleagues for signing their respective oaths. Within the next few seconds, the table came crashing down to add to the confusion and chaos.
The scene at the chief minister's official residence, where Akhilesh was scheduled to address a press conference, was no better.
The scene at the chief minister's official residence, where Akhilesh was scheduled to address a press conference, was no better.
While some party men tried to gatecrash under the garb of being media personnel, the absence of any regulation by the concerned officials compelled journalists to literally battle their way in with the policemen to gain entry to the press conference.
It was thanks to the sudden appearance of a senior official, who had held a key position under the earlier regime led by Mayawati, that some order was restored and the media could be ushered in.
It was thanks to the sudden appearance of a senior official, who had held a key position under the earlier regime led by Mayawati, that some order was restored and the media could be ushered in.
Free-for-all at Akhilesh coronation
Friday, 16 March 2012 00:07 PNS | Lucknow
Chaos prevailed in the aftermath of the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, as enthusiastic workers stormed the VVIP enclosure, throwing security norms to the wind and forcing the police to use mild force. It was a total chaos as soon as Akhilesh left the La Martiniere grounds on Thursday immediately after the swearing in. Over 2,000 party workers jumped on the stage. Some climbed on to the table, which broke. The workers walked away with broken pieces as mementos. A sheepish looking Chief Minister later admitted there was some anarchy. “It was the first day. The workers were trying to get the feel of freedom. Everything will fall in place by tomorrow,” he promised. However, no
excuse could justify the exhibition of muscle power by Samajwadis.
The area around 5, Kalidas Marg was chock-a-block with party workers. Lanes and by-lanes were packed with SUVs of different makes and sizes. But one thing was common — all of them had the Samajwadi Party flag on the bonnet mast. There was a crowd of over 50,000 enthusiastic workers. It seemed all roads were leading towards La Martiniere.When police tried to push them back, the crowd jostled with them and within no time the party workers had taken the seat meant for VVIPs. Kalidas Marg, the road which houses the official residence of the Chief Minister, closed to the common people during the last regime
for security reasons, was thrown open. Cars, jeeps, cycles passed through without any restrictions.
The high-point was when some fruit sellers parked their carts on the road, selling papayas and bananas, an unheard of fact in Mayawati raj. It showed — the Government has really changed.
It is a day of celebration for us. Our bhaiya has taken charge as the UP CM. Youth from across the State has come to witness the historic moment when our leader will take oath of office,” Sunil Yadav, national president Samajwadi Party Chaatra Sabha, explained away.
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