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So, what was it that Uttar Pradesh or UP voters voted for this time? It is neither Mayawati’s extravagance nor Mulayam’s arrogance but the urge to change – the injection of youth in the form of Akhilesh Yadav –that made voters realize that only he could transform the state as well as the conservative views of the Samajwadi Party.

Yes, tilting of the Samajwadi Party’s fortunes, well, was partly owing to the Muslim votebank (as said by Mayawati), but largely it was a desire for development and an end to Mayawati’s corrupt ways that prompted this change in the state.

Neighbouring Bihar has come out of the clutches of a goonda raj, after ousting Lalu Yadav from power. Nitish Kumar, although not a youth icon, has transformed Bihar into a state which has logged the highest growth rate in the country.

So, are we going to see a similar Uttar Pradesh? UP has been dogged by underdevelopment and neither Mayawati’s wasteful expenditure nor Mulayam’s philosophy (of discouraging students to learn English and computers) could keep UP afloat.

This has robbed UP of its wealth and made it one of the impoverished states in the country.

But Australia-educated Akhilesh has brought in a different brand of politics in comparison to his father. Akhilesh has promised free laptops to students who pass out of school.

So doesn’t this say everything about Akhilesh (that his main agenda will be development and education for all)?

Voters throughout the country have given their thumbs down to corrupt politicians (thanks to Anna Hazare’s slew of campaigns) and any non-performance on part of the Samajwadi Party will be trashed by voters in the next polls.

If Akhilesh can be convinced to become the chief minister of UP, he is likely to put his state on the development wheel, although it is going to be an arduous task for him.

Politicians like Mulayam (and Lalu) may not realize it but youth icon Akhilesh seems to have got the message of the people (shape up or ship out) and could be advocating change.

Even Mulayam has realized that his brand of politics could find few takers and is trying to convince party leaders (read elders) to put Akhilesh into the driver’s seat, that is, appoint him the chief minister.

As a politician, Akhilesh has catapulted way ahead of Congress icon Rahul Gandhi. Rahul, who is reluctant to take up any post in politics although Congressmen try to force the burden of responsibility on him, has clearly shown that he is not as adroit as Akhilesh.

For instance, the post-poll reaction where Rahul (as usual) accepted defeat humbly and Akhilesh emerged the Hero when asked what he felt about Rahul Gandhi says volumes as to who could be the suitable man for India.

Akhilesh plainly said to a television channel that victory and defeat were a part of life and it could happen to anyone. Such humility needs to be simply lauded.

If Rahul wants to be a front-runner in politics, he needs to give up his philosophical ways and take up an important party post and get things done.

Like they say, seeing is believing. Only when people start seeing that he’s doing something (other than spending time in people’s houses in villages), it could restore their fate in him.

Meanwhile, we could have found a suitable Prime Ministerial candidate in Akhilesh. We all need to wait and watch and see whether Akhilesh with his youth power can transform UP before we can think further.