News Analysis India

Tag: Akhilesh Yadav

  • Lok sabha polls 2024: Nitish denies being in race for PM post

    By Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar accompanied by his deputy Tejaswi Yadav met Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav here on Monday. 

    While pitching for the opposition’s unity, Nitish Kumar made it clear yet again that he was a contender neither for the leadership of the opposition coalition nor the Prime Ministership.

    “Humko nahi banna hai … yeh baat achchi tarah se jaan lijiye. Hum sabko khali ek jut karne mein lage hain (I am not there to become the leader (of the opposition parties), I am only working to bring everyone together),” Nitish told the media at a brief press conference which he addressed with Akhilesh and Tejaswi. 

    He was replying to a query if the opposition had made their decision over their leader for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

    Nitish Kumar said once the entire opposition came together, the leader would also be decided. 

    Asked if he had the plan to meet Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati as well, Nitish dodged the question saying that as of now he had come to meet the SP’s national president. 

    The three leaders had a closed-door meeting at SP headquarters for 4 minutes. 

    In his welcome address, Akhilesh announced that he was a part of Bihar CM’s endeavour to bring the opposition parties together to take on the ruling BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

    “Indian democracy and the Constitution are under threat. We are with you in this campaign to oust BJP out of power and save the constitution, the democracy and the country,” he said.

    Nitish stressed the synchronised unification of as many opposition parties as possible to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. 

    Asked if he planned to play the role that Jayaprakash Narayan had played to lead a movement against Indira Gandhi during the Emergency, Nitish said he was a disciple of JP.

    Accusing BJP of doing nothing but false publicity, Nitish said, “People are planning to change India’s history. We have to come together to help India get rid of BJP rule,” he said, adding that he has had constructive and positive discussions with the SP chief. 

    He expressed hope that the unity among the socialist parties in UP and Bihar will have a vast impact on the election results in 2024 as the two states account for a total of 120 seats. 

    Earlier, the SP chief deputed a delegation of senior leaders led by national general secretary Shivpal Yadav to receive Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav at Lucknow airport and accompany them to the party headquarters.

    The delegation comprised state president Naresh Uttam Patel and MLA Arman Khan among others. Nitish Kumar along with Tejashwi had reached Kolkata earlier in the day where they called on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. 

    LUCKNOW: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar accompanied by his deputy Tejaswi Yadav met Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav here on Monday. 

    While pitching for the opposition’s unity, Nitish Kumar made it clear yet again that he was a contender neither for the leadership of the opposition coalition nor the Prime Ministership.

    “Humko nahi banna hai … yeh baat achchi tarah se jaan lijiye. Hum sabko khali ek jut karne mein lage hain (I am not there to become the leader (of the opposition parties), I am only working to bring everyone together),” Nitish told the media at a brief press conference which he addressed with Akhilesh and Tejaswi. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    He was replying to a query if the opposition had made their decision over their leader for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

    Nitish Kumar said once the entire opposition came together, the leader would also be decided. 

    Asked if he had the plan to meet Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati as well, Nitish dodged the question saying that as of now he had come to meet the SP’s national president. 

    The three leaders had a closed-door meeting at SP headquarters for 4 minutes. 

    In his welcome address, Akhilesh announced that he was a part of Bihar CM’s endeavour to bring the opposition parties together to take on the ruling BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

    “Indian democracy and the Constitution are under threat. We are with you in this campaign to oust BJP out of power and save the constitution, the democracy and the country,” he said.

    Nitish stressed the synchronised unification of as many opposition parties as possible to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. 

    Asked if he planned to play the role that Jayaprakash Narayan had played to lead a movement against Indira Gandhi during the Emergency, Nitish said he was a disciple of JP.

    Accusing BJP of doing nothing but false publicity, Nitish said, “People are planning to change India’s history. We have to come together to help India get rid of BJP rule,” he said, adding that he has had constructive and positive discussions with the SP chief. 

    He expressed hope that the unity among the socialist parties in UP and Bihar will have a vast impact on the election results in 2024 as the two states account for a total of 120 seats. 

    Earlier, the SP chief deputed a delegation of senior leaders led by national general secretary Shivpal Yadav to receive Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav at Lucknow airport and accompany them to the party headquarters.

    The delegation comprised state president Naresh Uttam Patel and MLA Arman Khan among others. 
    Nitish Kumar along with Tejashwi had reached Kolkata earlier in the day where they called on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. 

  • Akhilesh slams BJP for using ‘fake encounters’ to divert attention from ‘real issues’

    By Online Desk

    Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in UP of using ‘fake encounters’ to divert attention from ‘real issues’. 

    The former chief minister tweeted shortly after state police confirmed the killing of Asad Ahmad – the son of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad – in an encounter in Jhansi district.

    झूठे एनकाउंटर करके भाजपा सरकार सच्चे मुद्दों से ध्यान भटकाना चाह रही है। भाजपाई न्यायालय में विश्वास ही नहीं करते हैं। आजके व हालिया एनकाउंटरों की भी गहन जाँच-पड़ताल हो व दोषियों को छोड़ा न जाए। सही-गलत के फ़ैसलों का अधिकार सत्ता का नहीं होता है।भाजपा भाईचारे के ख़िलाफ़ है।
    — Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) April 13, 2023
    Yadav, a former UP chief minister, tweeted shortly after state police confirmed the killing of Asad Ahmad – the son of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad – in an encounter in Jhansi district.”The (government) does not have the right to decide what is right or wrong.”

    Asad Ahmad’s killing comes less than a month before UP civic body polls.

    Asad and another accused in the same case – Ghulam – were shot dead in Jhansi and police recovered two foreign-made weapons.

    Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in UP of using ‘fake encounters’ to divert attention from ‘real issues’. 

    The former chief minister tweeted shortly after state police confirmed the killing of Asad Ahmad – the son of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad – in an encounter in Jhansi district.

    googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    झूठे एनकाउंटर करके भाजपा सरकार सच्चे मुद्दों से ध्यान भटकाना चाह रही है। भाजपाई न्यायालय में विश्वास ही नहीं करते हैं। आजके व हालिया एनकाउंटरों की भी गहन जाँच-पड़ताल हो व दोषियों को छोड़ा न जाए। सही-गलत के फ़ैसलों का अधिकार सत्ता का नहीं होता है।
    भाजपा भाईचारे के ख़िलाफ़ है।
    — Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) April 13, 2023
    Yadav, a former UP chief minister, tweeted shortly after state police confirmed the killing of Asad Ahmad – the son of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad – in an encounter in Jhansi district.
    “The (government) does not have the right to decide what is right or wrong.”

    Asad Ahmad’s killing comes less than a month before UP civic body polls.

    Asad and another accused in the same case – Ghulam – were shot dead in Jhansi and police recovered two foreign-made weapons.

  • Opposition forms G-8, calls Congress for LS poll talks

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Seven non-Congress opposition chief ministers and a deputy CM have together formed a group and had three video conferences over the last few weeks to discuss a united fight against the BJP in 2024.

    The eight leaders of this group include seven chief ministers – Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), MK Stalin (Tamil Nadu), Nitish Kumar (Bihar), K Chandrashekar Rao (Telangana), Hemant Soren (Jharkhand), Bhagwant Mann (Punjab), Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi) – and Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav. The Congress is part of the ruling alliance in TN, Jharkhand and Bihar.

    Sources said the group, called G-8, has invited the Congress to start seat-sharing talks on the condition that the leadership of the united opposition group is left open until after the Lok Sabha elections.  Congress is yet to respond to the proposal. But sources said Rahul Gandhi is keen to engage with G-8 leaders. They said a united challenge to the BJP with all opposition parties coming on one platform was the plan Rahul  Gandhi had referred to in London recently. 

    Some of the group’s leaders like KCR, Kejriwal and Mamata oppose breaking bread with the Congress. It is on their insistence that the condition to freeze the leadership issue until after the elections were conveyed to Congress. Two other chief ministers – Naveen Patnaik (Odisha) and Jagan Mohan Reddy (Andhra Pradesh) – have refused to have any pre-poll understanding with the Congress.

    Sources said if the Congress does not agree to their condition on leadership, they would go ahead and expand the group by including the remaining opposition CMs and other opposition parties. According to sources, Mamata Banerjee’s meeting with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday was an attempt by the non-Congress opposition leaders to send a message to the grand old party not to insist on a leadership position in the opposition. 

    The opposition leaders had not taken kindly to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s remark at an election rally that his party would lead the opposition and form the next government by ousting the BJP.An opposition leader who is privy to the discussions among the G-8 said that the Congress had failed to take on the BJP in the last two Lok Sabha elections. “It was routed in states where it was in a direct fight with the BJP.” It is time the Congress allowed the regional parties that have successfully halted the BJP’s march in their respective states to take the leadership position, he said. 

    NEW DELHI: Seven non-Congress opposition chief ministers and a deputy CM have together formed a group and had three video conferences over the last few weeks to discuss a united fight against the BJP in 2024.

    The eight leaders of this group include seven chief ministers – Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), MK Stalin (Tamil Nadu), Nitish Kumar (Bihar), K Chandrashekar Rao (Telangana), Hemant Soren (Jharkhand), Bhagwant Mann (Punjab), Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi) – and Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav. The Congress is part of the ruling alliance in TN, Jharkhand and Bihar.

    Sources said the group, called G-8, has invited the Congress to start seat-sharing talks on the condition that the leadership of the united opposition group is left open until after the Lok Sabha elections.  Congress is yet to respond to the proposal. But sources said Rahul Gandhi is keen to engage with G-8 leaders. They said a united challenge to the BJP with all opposition parties coming on one platform was the plan Rahul  Gandhi had referred to in London recently. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Some of the group’s leaders like KCR, Kejriwal and Mamata oppose breaking bread with the Congress. It is on their insistence that the condition to freeze the leadership issue until after the elections were conveyed to Congress. Two other chief ministers – Naveen Patnaik (Odisha) and Jagan Mohan Reddy (Andhra Pradesh) – have refused to have any pre-poll understanding with the Congress.

    Sources said if the Congress does not agree to their condition on leadership, they would go ahead and expand the group by including the remaining opposition CMs and other opposition parties. According to sources, Mamata Banerjee’s meeting with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday was an attempt by the non-Congress opposition leaders to send a message to the grand old party not to insist on a leadership position in the opposition. 

    The opposition leaders had not taken kindly to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s remark at an election rally that his party would lead the opposition and form the next government by ousting the BJP.
    An opposition leader who is privy to the discussions among the G-8 said that the Congress had failed to take on the BJP in the last two Lok Sabha elections. “It was routed in states where it was in a direct fight with the BJP.” It is time the Congress allowed the regional parties that have successfully halted the BJP’s march in their respective states to take the leadership position, he said. 

  • When chief minister goes on tour, mafia welcomes him: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday alleged that BJP leaders are behind all illegal constructions in Uttar Pradesh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is welcomed in his programmes by “mafia”.

    Accusing the ruling BJP of “misusing” the CBI and ED to defame the opposition parties, Yadav said that the image of opposition leaders who are fighting strongly against the BJP is being maligned by using these central agencies.

    “All the raids that are happening are political. The intention of the BJP is not clean. The people of the country are aware and sensible. They know that elections are near and that is why raids are being conducted,” he said.

    Interacting with reporters after an event in Mahmudabad, the Samajwadi Party president said, “The BJP does not accept the Constitution and the law. All the illegal constructions that are taking place in Uttar Pradesh today belong to BJP leaders. When the chief minister goes on tour, mafia welcome him.”

    He alleged, “The chief minister withdrew cases against himself and also those against the deputy chief minister. That is why the government is not releasing the list of the top 100 mafia of the state despite the demand of the Samajwadi Party.”

    LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday alleged that BJP leaders are behind all illegal constructions in Uttar Pradesh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is welcomed in his programmes by “mafia”.

    Accusing the ruling BJP of “misusing” the CBI and ED to defame the opposition parties, Yadav said that the image of opposition leaders who are fighting strongly against the BJP is being maligned by using these central agencies.

    “All the raids that are happening are political. The intention of the BJP is not clean. The people of the country are aware and sensible. They know that elections are near and that is why raids are being conducted,” he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Interacting with reporters after an event in Mahmudabad, the Samajwadi Party president said, “The BJP does not accept the Constitution and the law. All the illegal constructions that are taking place in Uttar Pradesh today belong to BJP leaders. When the chief minister goes on tour, mafia welcome him.”

    He alleged, “The chief minister withdrew cases against himself and also those against the deputy chief minister. That is why the government is not releasing the list of the top 100 mafia of the state despite the demand of the Samajwadi Party.”

  • Yogi Adityanath,  Akhilesh Yadav spar in UP Assemby over 2005 Prayagraj shootout

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: With budget session getting into its sixth day on Saturday, Uttar Pradesh Assembly witnessed a rare face-off between UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over Friday’s shoot out in Prayagraj during which Umesh Pal, the prime eyewitness of 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal, was killed along with the shooter.

    During the debate, the UP CM launched a broadside on Samajwadi Party accusing it of cultivating and patronizing mafia and criminals and taking the vow to eliminate all criminals completely from UP.

    “Iss House mein keh raha hoon. Iss mafia ko mitti me mila denge (I am saying it in this House, we will destroy this criminal),” the CM said in reference to Atiq Ahmed who has been named in Prayagraj shootout..

    “Jitney mafias hain unko mitti me milane ka kaam karenge (I will destroy all the mafias),” he added. As soon as the house assembled on Saturday morning, the opposition, including Akhilesh Yadav, attacked the BJP-led government over the sensational shootout in Prayagraj on Friday evening calling it a complete failure of law and order in the state.

    The CM started with expressing grief over the incident and assured the house that no mafia would be allowed to flourish in the state. Calling Prayagraj incident unfortunate, CM Yogi said that the government had taken cognizance of it and that action had begun.

    Notably, in connection with Prayagraj shootout, gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad, his wife Shaista Parveen, his brother Ashraf and both the sons along with other close relatives have been booked on the basis of the complaint given by deceased Umesh Pal’s family.

    Shaista had recently taken BSP membership. With repeated interruptions from the Opposition during his speech, seemingly agitated UP CM rebuffed the Samajwadi Party by accusing it of protecting mafia Atiq Ahmed.

    “Now they are raising fingers at the state government. The Prayagraj incident is very disturbing, but the guilty will not be spared and the action will soon be there for everyone to see,” said Yogi in the assembly. Leader of Opposition Akhilesh Yadav reacted to CM Yogi’s remark asking which party did criminal Atiq Ahmad belonged.

    “Since you have a friendship with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), you are not taking the name of BSP.” CM Yogi asked if those named in Friday incident were not nurtured and protected by the SP.

    “The Samajwadi Party had made Atiq Ahmed an MP. It is the BJP government that has broken his back. He became an MLA from Allahabad West in 1996 and an MP in 2004 and 2009 with the support of Samajwadi Party,” maintained Yogi.

    “You will first give shelter to criminals and garland them and then create drama and make allegations on others,” added the CM. He continued his tirade by saying: “You needed an excuse for your misdeeds. They (SP) have been patronizing mafia and criminals continuously. Crime runs in their veins. They haven’t learnt anything except crime. The whole state knows this and today, they have come to give clarification.” Continuing his attack, the CM referred to the statement once made by SP patriarch late Mulayam Sigh Yadav.

    LUCKNOW: With budget session getting into its sixth day on Saturday, Uttar Pradesh Assembly witnessed a rare face-off between UP CM Yogi Adityanath and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over Friday’s shoot out in Prayagraj during which Umesh Pal, the prime eyewitness of 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal, was killed along with the shooter.

    During the debate, the UP CM launched a broadside on Samajwadi Party accusing it of cultivating and patronizing mafia and criminals and taking the vow to eliminate all criminals completely from UP.

    “Iss House mein keh raha hoon. Iss mafia ko mitti me mila denge (I am saying it in this House, we will destroy this criminal),” the CM said in reference to Atiq Ahmed who has been named in Prayagraj shootout..

    “Jitney mafias hain unko mitti me milane ka kaam karenge (I will destroy all the mafias),” he added. As soon as the house assembled on Saturday morning, the opposition, including Akhilesh Yadav, attacked the BJP-led government over the sensational shootout in Prayagraj on Friday evening calling it a complete failure of law and order in the state.

    The CM started with expressing grief over the incident and assured the house that no mafia would be allowed to flourish in the state. Calling Prayagraj incident unfortunate, CM Yogi said that the government had taken cognizance of it and that action had begun.

    Notably, in connection with Prayagraj shootout, gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad, his wife Shaista Parveen, his brother Ashraf and both the sons along with other close relatives have been booked on the basis of the complaint given by deceased Umesh Pal’s family.

    Shaista had recently taken BSP membership. With repeated interruptions from the Opposition during his speech, seemingly agitated UP CM rebuffed the Samajwadi Party by accusing it of protecting mafia Atiq Ahmed.

    “Now they are raising fingers at the state government. The Prayagraj incident is very disturbing, but the guilty will not be spared and the action will soon be there for everyone to see,” said Yogi in the assembly. Leader of Opposition Akhilesh Yadav reacted to CM Yogi’s remark asking which party did criminal Atiq Ahmad belonged.

    “Since you have a friendship with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), you are not taking the name of BSP.” CM Yogi asked if those named in Friday incident were not nurtured and protected by the SP.

    “The Samajwadi Party had made Atiq Ahmed an MP. It is the BJP government that has broken his back. He became an MLA from Allahabad West in 1996 and an MP in 2004 and 2009 with the support of Samajwadi Party,” maintained Yogi.

    “You will first give shelter to criminals and garland them and then create drama and make allegations on others,” added the CM. He continued his tirade by saying: “You needed an excuse for your misdeeds. They (SP) have been patronizing mafia and criminals continuously. Crime runs in their veins. They haven’t learnt anything except crime. The whole state knows this and today, they have come to give clarification.” Continuing his attack, the CM referred to the statement once made by SP patriarch late Mulayam Sigh Yadav.

  • What is PM’s, UP CM’s response on caste survey, asks Akhilesh Yadav

    By PTI

    NOIDA: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday sought to know what is the stand of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on caste survey in the state.

    The former UP chief minister spoke about the issue during a visit to Noida, a day after Samajwadi Party MLAs disrupted the proceedings of the state assembly following their demand of conducting a caste survey in the state on the lines of Bihar being rejected by the government.

    Responding to the Opposition demand, the Yogi Adityanath-led government replied in negative, asserting that carrying out the census was the Centre’s jurisdiction.

    “The BJP is a very smart party. The BJP is putting forward its leaders to whom it has given nothing. What is the response of the prime minister and the chief minister (of UP) on caste survey, that is the major question. It’s not a question which can be responded to by small leaders, it’s about policy,” Yadav told reporters on sidelines of a party event here.

    He recalled that when the UPA was in power at the Centre, leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Sharad Yadav, Laloo Prasad Yadav and several from south India had approached the Congress for caste survey.

    “It’s a different matter that the Congress had first denied the demand. It had agreed to the demand later but not made the statistics public,” Yadav said.

    The Samajwadi Party chief alleged that those running away from caste survey are the same people who are in favour of “outsourcing and privatisation”.

    Pitching further, Yadav said a lot of aware people from different walks of society have come forward in support of caste survey, noting that making policies, rolling out schemes, initiatives and facilities to public is not possible without it.

    “If the BJP truly believes in its Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas slogan, then it will have to assure all communities that they will be connected with all schemes,” he said.

    Census is about to be conducted and it is the responsibility of the BJP to make sure that caste survey is also done, the former CM said, adding his party has said whenever it will get a chance, it will ensure it’s done.

    NOIDA: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday sought to know what is the stand of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on caste survey in the state.

    The former UP chief minister spoke about the issue during a visit to Noida, a day after Samajwadi Party MLAs disrupted the proceedings of the state assembly following their demand of conducting a caste survey in the state on the lines of Bihar being rejected by the government.

    Responding to the Opposition demand, the Yogi Adityanath-led government replied in negative, asserting that carrying out the census was the Centre’s jurisdiction.

    “The BJP is a very smart party. The BJP is putting forward its leaders to whom it has given nothing. What is the response of the prime minister and the chief minister (of UP) on caste survey, that is the major question. It’s not a question which can be responded to by small leaders, it’s about policy,” Yadav told reporters on sidelines of a party event here.

    He recalled that when the UPA was in power at the Centre, leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav, Sharad Yadav, Laloo Prasad Yadav and several from south India had approached the Congress for caste survey.

    “It’s a different matter that the Congress had first denied the demand. It had agreed to the demand later but not made the statistics public,” Yadav said.

    The Samajwadi Party chief alleged that those running away from caste survey are the same people who are in favour of “outsourcing and privatisation”.

    Pitching further, Yadav said a lot of aware people from different walks of society have come forward in support of caste survey, noting that making policies, rolling out schemes, initiatives and facilities to public is not possible without it.

    “If the BJP truly believes in its Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas slogan, then it will have to assure all communities that they will be connected with all schemes,” he said.

    Census is about to be conducted and it is the responsibility of the BJP to make sure that caste survey is also done, the former CM said, adding his party has said whenever it will get a chance, it will ensure it’s done.

  • SP seeks front-row seat next to Akhilesh for Shivpal in UP assembly

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: After his patch-up with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and appointment as the party’s National General Secretary, Shivpal Singh Yadav could be seen sitting in the front row in the Uttar Pradesh assembly which begins on February 20.

    SP chief whip Manoj Kumar Pandey has written a letter to Speaker Satish Mahana for a change in the seating arrangement.

    “Now Shivpalji will sit in the front row on party MLA Awadhesh Prasad’s seat. Prasad will sit next to Akhilesh Yadav.” Pandey told PTI.

    Till now the seat next to Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the opposition, was reserved for Azam Khan.

    Now Prasad, SP MLA from Milkipur seat in Ayodhya, will sit there.

    Shivpal, who is party MLA from Jaswant Nagar seat in Etawah district, was till now seen sitting in a seat in the back row.

    “We have got the letter. Arrangements will be made accordingly,” a senior official of the state assembly said.

    On the rocks since 2017, the “chacha-bhatija” relationship improved after the death of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav in October last year.

    The two have been seen together a number of times since, a probable factor in Dimple Yadav’s winning the Mainpuri Lok Sabha by-poll by a record margin.

    The relationship between Shivpal Yadav and his cousin Ramgopal Yadav has also seen a concomitant improvement.

    Since the development, the BJP, which tried to leverage the rift in the family for its gains, has turned hostile towards Shivpal.

    During the campaign in the Mainpuri by-election, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had likened Shivpal Yadav to a pendulum for his “swinging” from one party to another.

    LUCKNOW: After his patch-up with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and appointment as the party’s National General Secretary, Shivpal Singh Yadav could be seen sitting in the front row in the Uttar Pradesh assembly which begins on February 20.

    SP chief whip Manoj Kumar Pandey has written a letter to Speaker Satish Mahana for a change in the seating arrangement.

    “Now Shivpalji will sit in the front row on party MLA Awadhesh Prasad’s seat. Prasad will sit next to Akhilesh Yadav.” Pandey told PTI.

    Till now the seat next to Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the opposition, was reserved for Azam Khan.

    Now Prasad, SP MLA from Milkipur seat in Ayodhya, will sit there.

    Shivpal, who is party MLA from Jaswant Nagar seat in Etawah district, was till now seen sitting in a seat in the back row.

    “We have got the letter. Arrangements will be made accordingly,” a senior official of the state assembly said.

    On the rocks since 2017, the “chacha-bhatija” relationship improved after the death of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav in October last year.

    The two have been seen together a number of times since, a probable factor in Dimple Yadav’s winning the Mainpuri Lok Sabha by-poll by a record margin.

    The relationship between Shivpal Yadav and his cousin Ramgopal Yadav has also seen a concomitant improvement.

    Since the development, the BJP, which tried to leverage the rift in the family for its gains, has turned hostile towards Shivpal.

    During the campaign in the Mainpuri by-election, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had likened Shivpal Yadav to a pendulum for his “swinging” from one party to another.

  • Shivpal Yadav made general secretary in new SP national executive

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party on Sunday declared its national executive with Akhilesh Yadav as its national president and uncle Shivpal Yadav as a national general secretary.

    The uncle-nephew duo who parted ways in 2016 came together during the Mainpuri Lok Sabha bypoll in December last year following the death of Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav.

    The SP on Sunday declared its 62-member national executive and released the list on its Twitter handle.

    Shivpal Yadav will be among the 14 national general secretaries.

    The others include Mohammad Azam Khan, Swami Prasad Maurya, Ravi Prakash Verma and Balram Yadav.

    While Akhilesh Yadav will continue to hold the post of national president, Kiranmoy Nanda will be national vice president and Ram Gopal Yadav will continue as national principal general secretary.

    Sudip Ranjan Sen will be the party treasurer, while there will be 19 national secretaries besides members.

    After an open feud with Akhilesh Yadav and being sidelined in the Samajwadi Party in 2016, Shivpal Yadav formed the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) in 2018 and contested against nephew Akshay Yadav from Firozabad.

    LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party on Sunday declared its national executive with Akhilesh Yadav as its national president and uncle Shivpal Yadav as a national general secretary.

    The uncle-nephew duo who parted ways in 2016 came together during the Mainpuri Lok Sabha bypoll in December last year following the death of Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav.

    The SP on Sunday declared its 62-member national executive and released the list on its Twitter handle.

    Shivpal Yadav will be among the 14 national general secretaries.

    The others include Mohammad Azam Khan, Swami Prasad Maurya, Ravi Prakash Verma and Balram Yadav.

    While Akhilesh Yadav will continue to hold the post of national president, Kiranmoy Nanda will be national vice president and Ram Gopal Yadav will continue as national principal general secretary.

    Sudip Ranjan Sen will be the party treasurer, while there will be 19 national secretaries besides members.

    After an open feud with Akhilesh Yadav and being sidelined in the Samajwadi Party in 2016, Shivpal Yadav formed the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) in 2018 and contested against nephew Akshay Yadav from Firozabad.

  • Akhilesh Yadav slams UP, Uttarakhand CMs over paper leak; BJP says ‘no right to speak’

    Express News Service

    HALDWANI: Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav said that cases of paper leaks have been reported in both Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh states. “In such a situation, the chief ministers of both the states only know how to leak papers”.

    Speaking on the Joshimath case, Akhilesh Yadav said that the government destroyed Joshimath because of National thermal power corporation (NTPC) in the greed of profits.

    Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who attended the wedding ceremony of the son of Uttarakhand state in-charge of the Samajwadi Party Abdul Mateen Siddiqui, described the current government as destroying rather than development.

    “The people of Uttarakhand had hoped for development, but the governments in power could not live up to the expectations of the people of Uttarakhand”, added Akhilesh.

    Earlier, at pantnagar airport, Akhilesh said, ‘Unemployment will be removed only when BJP is removed from power’, ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra is a Congress program, we have congratulated them. Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav was welcomed by party workers and farmers at the residence of farmer leader Tajinder Virk.

    Reacting sharply to SP president Akhilesh Yadav’s statement, BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt said, “During the SP rule, agitators were selectively gunned down and attempts were made to crush the movement in an oppressive manner. SP has no right to say anything on Uttarakhand”.

    Bhatt also said, “The ‘Jungle raj’ and ‘Mafia rule’ of Uttar Pradesh was curbed when the BJP government was formed in Uttar Pradesh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took over. The culture of ‘sale of districts and police stations’ was reined in.

    HALDWANI: Samajwadi Party national president Akhilesh Yadav said that cases of paper leaks have been reported in both Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh states. “In such a situation, the chief ministers of both the states only know how to leak papers”.

    Speaking on the Joshimath case, Akhilesh Yadav said that the government destroyed Joshimath because of National thermal power corporation (NTPC) in the greed of profits.

    Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who attended the wedding ceremony of the son of Uttarakhand state in-charge of the Samajwadi Party Abdul Mateen Siddiqui, described the current government as destroying rather than development.

    “The people of Uttarakhand had hoped for development, but the governments in power could not live up to the expectations of the people of Uttarakhand”, added Akhilesh.

    Earlier, at pantnagar airport, Akhilesh said, ‘Unemployment will be removed only when BJP is removed from power’, ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra is a Congress program, we have congratulated them. Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav was welcomed by party workers and farmers at the residence of farmer leader Tajinder Virk.

    Reacting sharply to SP president Akhilesh Yadav’s statement, BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt said, “During the SP rule, agitators were selectively gunned down and attempts were made to crush the movement in an oppressive manner. SP has no right to say anything on Uttarakhand”.

    Bhatt also said, “The ‘Jungle raj’ and ‘Mafia rule’ of Uttar Pradesh was curbed when the BJP government was formed in Uttar Pradesh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took over. The culture of ‘sale of districts and police stations’ was reined in.

  • UP: Urban local body polls only after reservation to OBCs, says CM Yogi

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: The Urban Local Body polls seem to be heading for a delay in the state as, contrary to Allahabad High Court’s Tuesday order, the Yogi Aditynath government is contemplating going for the elections only after fixing quota for OBCs through a triple test process in the civic bodies.

    Reacting to the order passed by the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court allowing Urban Local Body elections in the state without OBC reservation in civic bodies, the Uttar Pradesh government said that it would not go for the polls without fixing quota for OBCs.

    In a press statement issued on Tuesday, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said that the state would form a commission to ensure reservation to OBCs on the basis of a “triple test” process and that the Local Body elections would be conducted only after providing reservations to OBCs.

    CM Yogi said the authorities were going through the High Court order in detail and the state government would consider all the legal aspects associated with it. The state government would move the Supreme Court, if necessary, said the UP CM.

    Earlier in the day, in an order, a Division Bench of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Saurabh Lavania said until the “triple test/conditions” mandated by the Supreme Court was completed in all respects by the state government, no reservation for the Backward Class of citizens should be provided.

    UP Deputy CM Keshav Maurya said that the decision over Urban Local Body polls would be taken only after consulting the legal experts in connection with the High Court order. “However, there would be no compromise over the rights of OBCs,” said Maurya.

    State Urban Development Minister AK Sharma also made similar claims and reiterated the state government’s stand of moving to the Supreme Court if needed.

    Minister Ashish Patel, the executive president of BJP ally Apna Dal (S), claimed that it would not be proper to hold civic polls without an OBC quota. “We (Apna Dal -S) are also studying the HC order and will not shy away from moving apex court if necessary to protect the rights of OBCs,” said Patel.

    ALSO READ | Electoral politics vs affirmative action: Quota test for BJP ahead of 2024 polls

    In UP, BJP has been banking upon the support of non-Yadav OBCs to a large extent in the previous elections. In the 2022 assembly polls, around 64 per cent non-Yadav OBCs voted for the ruling party.

    Following the High Court order, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav called the state government “anti-OBC reservation” and accused it of shedding ‘crocodile tears’ on the issue.

    Taking to Twitter, the SP chief said, “Today the BJP has snatched the right of reservation from OBCs, tomorrow it will also strip the SC/ ST of their right ensured to them by Baba Saheb Ambedkar.”

    SP national general secretary and party’s Rajya Sabha member Prof Ram Gopal Yadav took to Twitter to raise questions over the Yogi government’s intent to hold civic polls in the state.

    Ram Gopal Yadav accused the state government of not contesting the case properly in court. He called the court order allowing the civic polls without OBC reservation as ‘unfortunate’.

    Alleging it a plot of the Yogi government, the SP leader accused it of not presenting the facts in the court deliberately. “This is how the UP government has stripped 60 per cent population of the state of reservation,” said the SP leader in his Twitter post.

    LUCKNOW: The Urban Local Body polls seem to be heading for a delay in the state as, contrary to Allahabad High Court’s Tuesday order, the Yogi Aditynath government is contemplating going for the elections only after fixing quota for OBCs through a triple test process in the civic bodies.

    Reacting to the order passed by the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court allowing Urban Local Body elections in the state without OBC reservation in civic bodies, the Uttar Pradesh government said that it would not go for the polls without fixing quota for OBCs.

    In a press statement issued on Tuesday, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said that the state would form a commission to ensure reservation to OBCs on the basis of a “triple test” process and that the Local Body elections would be conducted only after providing reservations to OBCs.

    CM Yogi said the authorities were going through the High Court order in detail and the state government would consider all the legal aspects associated with it. The state government would move the Supreme Court, if necessary, said the UP CM.

    Earlier in the day, in an order, a Division Bench of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Saurabh Lavania said until the “triple test/conditions” mandated by the Supreme Court was completed in all respects by the state government, no reservation for the Backward Class of citizens should be provided.

    UP Deputy CM Keshav Maurya said that the decision over Urban Local Body polls would be taken only after consulting the legal experts in connection with the High Court order. “However, there would be no compromise over the rights of OBCs,” said Maurya.

    State Urban Development Minister AK Sharma also made similar claims and reiterated the state government’s stand of moving to the Supreme Court if needed.

    Minister Ashish Patel, the executive president of BJP ally Apna Dal (S), claimed that it would not be proper to hold civic polls without an OBC quota. “We (Apna Dal -S) are also studying the HC order and will not shy away from moving apex court if necessary to protect the rights of OBCs,” said Patel.

    ALSO READ | Electoral politics vs affirmative action: Quota test for BJP ahead of 2024 polls

    In UP, BJP has been banking upon the support of non-Yadav OBCs to a large extent in the previous elections. In the 2022 assembly polls, around 64 per cent non-Yadav OBCs voted for the ruling party.

    Following the High Court order, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav called the state government “anti-OBC reservation” and accused it of shedding ‘crocodile tears’ on the issue.

    Taking to Twitter, the SP chief said, “Today the BJP has snatched the right of reservation from OBCs, tomorrow it will also strip the SC/ ST of their right ensured to them by Baba Saheb Ambedkar.”

    SP national general secretary and party’s Rajya Sabha member Prof Ram Gopal Yadav took to Twitter to raise questions over the Yogi government’s intent to hold civic polls in the state.

    Ram Gopal Yadav accused the state government of not contesting the case properly in court. He called the court order allowing the civic polls without OBC reservation as ‘unfortunate’.

    Alleging it a plot of the Yogi government, the SP leader accused it of not presenting the facts in the court deliberately. “This is how the UP government has stripped 60 per cent population of the state of reservation,” said the SP leader in his Twitter post.