Samajwadi Party silver jubilee celebrations

A day before UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's Rath Yatra, uncle Shivpal Yadav on Wednesday held a meeting of youth wing to review the preparations for the party's silver jubilee celebrations to be held on November 5.

When UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav sets off on his rath yatra on Thursday, his companion would be the catchy but inspiring rhythm of war songs from Bundelkhand ­ the Alha, folk songs sung in praise of warrior kings.

The pro-CM camp, which has expelled SP leaders, is working overtime to make it one of the biggest political shows of recent times, coming close on the heels of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's month-long Deoria-to-Delhi 'kisan yatra'.

A hoarding put up by a youth leader close to Shivpal says "Shivpal kahey dil se, Akhilesh ka abhishek phir se" (Shivpal says from his heart to make Akhilesh CM again), while some others only highlight Akhilesh's achievements. "The hoardings put up by the leaders show the state of confusion in the party. It's visible on roads. We wish this confusion to end with the start of this yatra," a senior SP leader said.

Despite all the problems and squabbling, SP is still the number one party in UP, Akhilesh Yadav said. "Hamari party toh itna ladai-jhagde ke bawazood bhi number 1 par hai," he told TOI on the eve of his Vikas Rath Yatra that begins on Thursday.

The supporters of both Akhilesh and Shivpal factions are keeping an eye on the development and the entire route of yatra is dotted with hoardings, banners and colourful arches to welcome the 'Vikas Sey Vijay Tak' rath yatra