Akhilesh Yadav's Hi-Tech Mercedes 'Rath' Breaks Down A Km Into Yatra

This morning, Akhilesh's father and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav flagged off the yatra, which launches the 43-year-old's for a second term.

"I want to thank Mulayam Singh Yadav for flagging off the event," the Chief Minister said at the launch at Lucknow's famous La Martiniere School, adding, "This UP election will change national politics."

Mulayam Singh's younger brother and the party's state chief Shivpal Yadav accompanied him for the flag-off. Shivpal Yadav has been engaged in a bitter power tussle with his nephew Akhilesh that exploded at a party meeting last month. Mulayam Singh has distinctly tilted in favour of his brother. Today, uncle and nephew flanked the party chief on stage. "I wish Akhilesh Yadav well for the Rath Yatra," Shivpal Yadav said.

With the Yadavs seated together on the stage, party workers were seen clashing in the audience, apparently over space.

Akhilesh's is scheduled to travel 100 km in Lucknow and neighbouring Unnao on the first day of his tour on a Mercedes "rath". The 43-year-old is likely to address people on the way, on a hydraulic lift fitted on the bus.

Akhilesh's core team for the yatra is made up of seven youth leaders of the party, all banned by his father and uncle. Sources said Akhilesh plans to use the yatra to prove his popularity and settle the leadership challenge from Shivpal Yadav.

Thousands have travelled to gather at the ground to see off the Chief Minister on the first leg of his tour, a 100-km run that will take him to neighbouring district Unnao. That means hundreds of buses are parked on Lucknow's roads today.

"We are expecting nearly two lakh people along the route, and nearly 6,000 vehicles from all over UP. To help people heading towards the airport and other key services like railway stations, bus stands and hospitals we have made arrangements for green channels," senior police officer Satish Ganesh told NDTV.

Akhilesh Yadav's route through and out of Lucknow includes an arterial road that leads to the airport and slow traffic is anticipated. Akhilesh Yadav will stop to address rallies and that could cause major disruption.

6,000 cops have been posted along the route and police chiefs are on alert in five districts including Kanpur and Faizabad. Schools all along the yatra route have been asked to shut down.