News Analysis India

Tag: Samajwadi Party

  • Uttar Pradesh BJP snubs Akhilesh for offering CMship to Keshav Maurya 

    By Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Reacting to the purported offer extended by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav to Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya to part ways with the BJP and become the CM, newly elected UP BJP chief Bhupendra Singh Chaudhury advised the SP chief to worry about his MLAs and allies who were allegedly in contact with the ruling party.

    Responding to Yadav’s statement given during a programme organised by a news channel, Chaudhury took to Twitter saying that Maurya was a certified and dedicated worker of the party who is devoted to the BJP’s ideology. “Keshav ji is a certified worker of the organisation, of the party and dedicated to the ideology of BJP. He will always be with us, he is not a leader who falls in selfishness,” Chaudhary tweeted.

    In another tweet, Chaudhary said, “Akhilesh Yadav should worry about his alliance, his family, his party, and his MLAs because his MLAs are in touch with us.”

    Yadav had reportedly suggested Maurya for a grand alliance against the BJP on the lines of Bihar where Nitish Kumar tied up with RJD and Congress to make government. 

    However, in the recent legislative Assembly polls, Maurya had lost to Apna Dal-Kamerawadi leader Pallavi Patel who had contested on the SP ticket from Sirathu, Maurya’s traditional seat. 

    The SP won 111 seats and its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) eight. Two other alliance partners Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (six MLAs) and Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia (one MLA) have since then parted ways with the SP. The BJP has 255 seats and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) 272 in the 403-member state Assembly.

    Significantly, Akhilesh and Maurya had a face-off on the floor of the Assembly which had hit the headlines and the SP chief had drawn widespread criticism over the use of unparliamentary language against Maurya.

    LUCKNOW: Reacting to the purported offer extended by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav to Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya to part ways with the BJP and become the CM, newly elected UP BJP chief Bhupendra Singh Chaudhury advised the SP chief to worry about his MLAs and allies who were allegedly in contact with the ruling party.

    Responding to Yadav’s statement given during a programme organised by a news channel, Chaudhury took to Twitter saying that Maurya was a certified and dedicated worker of the party who is devoted to the BJP’s ideology. “Keshav ji is a certified worker of the organisation, of the party and dedicated to the ideology of BJP. He will always be with us, he is not a leader who falls in selfishness,” Chaudhary tweeted.

    In another tweet, Chaudhary said, “Akhilesh Yadav should worry about his alliance, his family, his party, and his MLAs because his MLAs are in touch with us.”

    Yadav had reportedly suggested Maurya for a grand alliance against the BJP on the lines of Bihar where Nitish Kumar tied up with RJD and Congress to make government. 

    However, in the recent legislative Assembly polls, Maurya had lost to Apna Dal-Kamerawadi leader Pallavi Patel who had contested on the SP ticket from Sirathu, Maurya’s traditional seat. 

    The SP won 111 seats and its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) eight. Two other alliance partners Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (six MLAs) and Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia (one MLA) have since then parted ways with the SP. The BJP has 255 seats and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) 272 in the 403-member state Assembly.

    Significantly, Akhilesh and Maurya had a face-off on the floor of the Assembly which had hit the headlines and the SP chief had drawn widespread criticism over the use of unparliamentary language against Maurya.

  • Gorakhpur: Row emerges after ‘Muslim-sounding names’ of wards changed in draft delimitation order

    By PTI

    GORAKHPUR: The Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation in a draft delimitation order has changed “Muslim-sounding names” of around a dozen wards, prompting a sharp reaction from leaders of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress.

    The changing of names was part of the delimitation exercise, under which the number of wards went up to 80 in Gorakhpur, with several of these named after iconic personalities and freedom fighters.

    According to a senior official, people can file their objections within a week and after their disposal, the delimitation will be approved.

    Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party leader and Ismailpur corporator Shahab Ansari said changing of names is an attempt at polarisation.

    He, however, did not elaborate.

    Ansari said the party will hold a meeting in this regard on Sunday and a delegation will meet the district magistrate to raise the objection on Monday.

    Congress leader Talat Aziz termed the name-changing exercise as a waste of money.

    “I fail to understand what the government will achieve through this exercise,” the leader asked.

    Mayor Sitaram Jaiswal said new names evoke the feeling of pride.

    He said wards were named after personalities like Ashfaqullah Khan, Shiv Singh Chetri, Baba Gambhir Nath, Baba Raghavdas, Dr Rajendra Prasad and Madan Mohan Malviya.

    Municipal Commissioner Avinash Singh said objections can be sent within a week to the additional chief secretary, Urban Development Department, Lucknow.

    After the disposal of the objections, the delimitation will be approved, he said.

    Gorakhpur, the home town of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, will now have 80 wards.

    Miya Bazar, Muftipur, Alinagar, Turkmanpur, Ismailpur, Rassolpur, Humayunpur North, Ghosipurva, Daudpur, Jafra Bazar, Qazipur Khurd and Chaksa Hussain are among the “Muslim-sounding names” that have been changed.

    According to the order issued by the civic body, Ilahi Bagh will now be known as Bandhu Singh Nagar, Ismailpur as Sahabganj and Jafra Bazar as Atma Ram Nagar.

    GORAKHPUR: The Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation in a draft delimitation order has changed “Muslim-sounding names” of around a dozen wards, prompting a sharp reaction from leaders of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress.

    The changing of names was part of the delimitation exercise, under which the number of wards went up to 80 in Gorakhpur, with several of these named after iconic personalities and freedom fighters.

    According to a senior official, people can file their objections within a week and after their disposal, the delimitation will be approved.

    Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party leader and Ismailpur corporator Shahab Ansari said changing of names is an attempt at polarisation.

    He, however, did not elaborate.

    Ansari said the party will hold a meeting in this regard on Sunday and a delegation will meet the district magistrate to raise the objection on Monday.

    Congress leader Talat Aziz termed the name-changing exercise as a waste of money.

    “I fail to understand what the government will achieve through this exercise,” the leader asked.

    Mayor Sitaram Jaiswal said new names evoke the feeling of pride.

    He said wards were named after personalities like Ashfaqullah Khan, Shiv Singh Chetri, Baba Gambhir Nath, Baba Raghavdas, Dr Rajendra Prasad and Madan Mohan Malviya.

    Municipal Commissioner Avinash Singh said objections can be sent within a week to the additional chief secretary, Urban Development Department, Lucknow.

    After the disposal of the objections, the delimitation will be approved, he said.

    Gorakhpur, the home town of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, will now have 80 wards.

    Miya Bazar, Muftipur, Alinagar, Turkmanpur, Ismailpur, Rassolpur, Humayunpur North, Ghosipurva, Daudpur, Jafra Bazar, Qazipur Khurd and Chaksa Hussain are among the “Muslim-sounding names” that have been changed.

    According to the order issued by the civic body, Ilahi Bagh will now be known as Bandhu Singh Nagar, Ismailpur as Sahabganj and Jafra Bazar as Atma Ram Nagar.

  • Developments in Bihar positive sign for national politics: Akhilesh Yadav

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Thursday that the political shift in Bihar is a “positive sign” and hoped a strong alternative to the BJP is formed in the 2024 Parliamentary polls.

    He also claimed that the BJP’s allies in Uttar Pradesh are not happy with it and will also break free from the saffron party in the future. JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar recently dumped the BJP and joined hands with Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress and other parties to form a new government in Bihar.

    In an interview with PTI at the party headquarter here, Yadav said his party is focusing on strengthening and restructuring its organisation and will be holding a national convention this year. The SP chief also accused the Election Commission of “dishonesty” and blamed it for his party’s defeat in the assembly polls as well in the bypolls for Azamgarh and Ramgarh seats.

    When asked about the developments in Bihar, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, “It (Bihar development) is a positive sign for the country’s politics.”

    “Political allies are not happy with the BJP. See in UP what they (BJP allies) are getting. One day they will also run away from them,” he said without elaborating.

    The BJP had tied up with the Apna Dal (Sonelal) and Nishad party in the assembly polls. About the 2024 parliamentary polls, Yadav said, “I hope a strong alternative will be formed against the BJP and people will support it.”

    About his party’s role in the formation of an alternative, Yadav said, “Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar are working on it. Our focus as of now is strengthening our party in the state.”

    ALSO READ | ‘BJP-RSS trying to hide dark pages of its past through Har Ghar Tiranga campaign’: Akhilesh

    After the political upheaval in neighbouring Bihar, talks started doing the rounds in Uttar Pradesh if it could be replicated in the most populous state which sends a maximum of 80 MPs to Lok Sabha. It was also debated in political circles if Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati would again combine against the BJP in 2024.

    Though the “Bua-Babua” (Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav) failed to stop the BJP in Uttar Pradesh in 2019, they managed to lower its tally to 62 from 71 in 2014. The BJP’s number went up to 64 after victory in Azamgarh and Rampur in the by-election.

    Its ally Apna Dal (Sonelal) led by union minister of state Anupriya Patel has two MPs.

    In the opposition camp, the BSP has 10 MPs while Yadav’s strength has come down to three from five after the bypoll defeat. Congress president Sonia Gandhi is the lone representative of her party from UP.

    Though there is no early indication of a realignment of parties in Uttar Pradesh, BJP leaders have already dismissed any impact on them if it comes, saying the different combination of opposition parties have faced drubbing from the saffron party in 2014 as well in 2019 and also state polls.

    Yadav said the SP will hold a national convention this year and the focus is on strengthening the party at the booth level.

    “Our membership drive is going on and is getting a good response. This time the drive is through a mobile app, online and QR code also besides traditional ways,” he added.

    About the municipal corporation polls scheduled later this year, Yadav said the party has made in-charges for this and preparation is on.

    ALSO READ | ‘Taught a lesson by socialists in Bihar, BJP will also be thrown out of UP’: Akhilesh on NDA’s breakdown

    Yadav said the SP had contested past polls with an appeal to save democracy and now after the polls, the results are in front of everyone.

    “There is no unbiased institution left in the country. Under pressure, the government is getting whatever it wants from these institutions,” Yadav alleged.

    Blaming the EC for the party’s rout in assembly polls and bypolls, he said, “The EC did a lot of dishonesty. It did not hear opposition voices. A large number of votes were cut from the electoral rolls.”

    “In Rampur, SP workers were not allowed to cast votes while in Azamgarh, red cards were issued to SP workers. Was the EC sleeping? It did not pay heed to our complaints,” Yadav alleged, asking the poll body to improve its functioning.

    On record Covid vaccination in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav alleged that all “data for the second dose vaccination is fake”. Attacking the state government on the law and order situation, Yadav said it is in “bad shape” while the medical system has collapsed.

    “There is no medicine, no treatment and no operation. The machines used have become obsolete be it for X-ray, MRI or CT Scan. In medical universities in the state ‘dalals’ are roaming,” Yadav said.

    ALSO READ | Akhilesh calls Bihar developments ‘good start’, says ‘BJP Bhagao’ slogan coming from state

    Officers and ministers are doing ‘manmarji’ (working on whims and fancies), while the chief minister is busy in review meetings, he added.

    LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Thursday that the political shift in Bihar is a “positive sign” and hoped a strong alternative to the BJP is formed in the 2024 Parliamentary polls.

    He also claimed that the BJP’s allies in Uttar Pradesh are not happy with it and will also break free from the saffron party in the future. JD(U)’s Nitish Kumar recently dumped the BJP and joined hands with Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the Congress and other parties to form a new government in Bihar.

    In an interview with PTI at the party headquarter here, Yadav said his party is focusing on strengthening and restructuring its organisation and will be holding a national convention this year. The SP chief also accused the Election Commission of “dishonesty” and blamed it for his party’s defeat in the assembly polls as well in the bypolls for Azamgarh and Ramgarh seats.

    When asked about the developments in Bihar, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, “It (Bihar development) is a positive sign for the country’s politics.”

    “Political allies are not happy with the BJP. See in UP what they (BJP allies) are getting. One day they will also run away from them,” he said without elaborating.

    The BJP had tied up with the Apna Dal (Sonelal) and Nishad party in the assembly polls. About the 2024 parliamentary polls, Yadav said, “I hope a strong alternative will be formed against the BJP and people will support it.”

    About his party’s role in the formation of an alternative, Yadav said, “Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar are working on it. Our focus as of now is strengthening our party in the state.”

    ALSO READ | ‘BJP-RSS trying to hide dark pages of its past through Har Ghar Tiranga campaign’: Akhilesh

    After the political upheaval in neighbouring Bihar, talks started doing the rounds in Uttar Pradesh if it could be replicated in the most populous state which sends a maximum of 80 MPs to Lok Sabha. It was also debated in political circles if Yadav and BSP supremo Mayawati would again combine against the BJP in 2024.

    Though the “Bua-Babua” (Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav) failed to stop the BJP in Uttar Pradesh in 2019, they managed to lower its tally to 62 from 71 in 2014. The BJP’s number went up to 64 after victory in Azamgarh and Rampur in the by-election.

    Its ally Apna Dal (Sonelal) led by union minister of state Anupriya Patel has two MPs.

    In the opposition camp, the BSP has 10 MPs while Yadav’s strength has come down to three from five after the bypoll defeat. Congress president Sonia Gandhi is the lone representative of her party from UP.

    Though there is no early indication of a realignment of parties in Uttar Pradesh, BJP leaders have already dismissed any impact on them if it comes, saying the different combination of opposition parties have faced drubbing from the saffron party in 2014 as well in 2019 and also state polls.

    Yadav said the SP will hold a national convention this year and the focus is on strengthening the party at the booth level.

    “Our membership drive is going on and is getting a good response. This time the drive is through a mobile app, online and QR code also besides traditional ways,” he added.

    About the municipal corporation polls scheduled later this year, Yadav said the party has made in-charges for this and preparation is on.

    ALSO READ | ‘Taught a lesson by socialists in Bihar, BJP will also be thrown out of UP’: Akhilesh on NDA’s breakdown

    Yadav said the SP had contested past polls with an appeal to save democracy and now after the polls, the results are in front of everyone.

    “There is no unbiased institution left in the country. Under pressure, the government is getting whatever it wants from these institutions,” Yadav alleged.

    Blaming the EC for the party’s rout in assembly polls and bypolls, he said, “The EC did a lot of dishonesty. It did not hear opposition voices. A large number of votes were cut from the electoral rolls.”

    “In Rampur, SP workers were not allowed to cast votes while in Azamgarh, red cards were issued to SP workers. Was the EC sleeping? It did not pay heed to our complaints,” Yadav alleged, asking the poll body to improve its functioning.

    On record Covid vaccination in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav alleged that all “data for the second dose vaccination is fake”. Attacking the state government on the law and order situation, Yadav said it is in “bad shape” while the medical system has collapsed.

    “There is no medicine, no treatment and no operation. The machines used have become obsolete be it for X-ray, MRI or CT Scan. In medical universities in the state ‘dalals’ are roaming,” Yadav said.

    ALSO READ | Akhilesh calls Bihar developments ‘good start’, says ‘BJP Bhagao’ slogan coming from state

    Officers and ministers are doing ‘manmarji’ (working on whims and fancies), while the chief minister is busy in review meetings, he added.

  • SC dismisses plea of SP leader Azam Khan in son Abdullah’s fake birth certificate case

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday junked a plea filed by Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan challenging an order of the Allahabad High Court refusing to quash the charge sheet in the fake birth certificate case of his son.

    A bench comprising Justices Hemant Gupta and Vikram Nath said it does not find any reason to interfere with the order of the high court.

    Azam Khan, his wife Tazeen Fatima and son Abdullah Azam Khan were sent to jail in a criminal case registered against them, alleging that Abdullah Khan got two fake birth certificates issued through fraudulent means from two different places.

    In an FIR lodged by BJP leader Akash Saxena at the Ganj police station in Rampur on January 3, 2019, it was alleged that Azam Khan and his wife helped their son obtain two fake dates of birth certificates, one from Lucknow and another from Rampur.

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday junked a plea filed by Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan challenging an order of the Allahabad High Court refusing to quash the charge sheet in the fake birth certificate case of his son.

    A bench comprising Justices Hemant Gupta and Vikram Nath said it does not find any reason to interfere with the order of the high court.

    Azam Khan, his wife Tazeen Fatima and son Abdullah Azam Khan were sent to jail in a criminal case registered against them, alleging that Abdullah Khan got two fake birth certificates issued through fraudulent means from two different places.

    In an FIR lodged by BJP leader Akash Saxena at the Ganj police station in Rampur on January 3, 2019, it was alleged that Azam Khan and his wife helped their son obtain two fake dates of birth certificates, one from Lucknow and another from Rampur.

  • Samajwadi Party signals end of alliance with Omprakash Rajbhar, Shivpal Yadav

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: The Samajwadi Party on Saturday told allies Omprakash Rajbhar and Shivpal Singh Yadav that they are free to go, signalling a break-up after the two supported the BJP presidential candidate in the just concluded polls.

    Rajbhar said he has “accepted the divorce” given by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav too gave similar indication.

    In a letter to Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president Omprakash Rajbhar, the SP said while they are fighting the BJP, Rajbhar “has a partnership” with the saffron party and was helping it.

    It said he is free to go if he feels he will get more respect there.

    In a similar letter to Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) President Shivpal Singh Yadav, the SP said that “he can go where he gets more respect”.

    The SP shared the letters on its official Twitter handle.

    Shivpal Yadav replied tersely to the SP’s move.

    pic.twitter.com/qc7T8GJAlr
    — Samajwadi Party (@samajwadiparty) July 23, 2022
    “Although I was always free, I sincerely thank the Samajwadi Party from the heart for giving me formal independence by issuing a letter. Compromising on principles and respect is unacceptable in a political journey,” he tweeted in Hindi.

    Rajbhar hit out at Akhilesh Yadav.

    “It is bad if I meet Yogi (Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath) but it is very good if Akhilesh Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav meet him,” he said, and warned the SP chief that the effect of his action “will be known by the 2024 elections”.

    Asked about his next step, he said that he will hold talks with the Bahujan Samaj Party.

    He also said that “Shivpal Yadav is our leader and we keep in touch with him”.

    The development came after Rajbhar and Shivpal Yadav supported the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu who defeated Yashwant Sinha, the opposition nominee supported by SP.

    In 2018, Shivpal Singh Yadav formed his new party after he was sidelined by Akhilesh Yadav.

    Akhilesh Yadav had reached out to his estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav ahead of the recent Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls and the latter had won the election from the Jaswant Nagar constituency on the SP symbol.

    However, the ties remained strained between the two.

    The Samajwadi Party had fought the recent Uttar Pradesh assembly polls together with Jayant Chaudhary’s RLD, Rajbhar’s SBSP, Apna Dal (Kamerawadi), Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia), Keshav Dev Maurya’s Mahan Dal and the Janwadi Party.

    But after the alliance failed to dislodge the BJP, there was much speculation about it falling apart.

    The Mahan Dal and the Janwadi Party have already severed ties with the SP.

    The SP is now left with only RLD and Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) as alliance partners.

    In the letter written in Hindi sent to Rajbhar, the SP said, “Shri Omprakash Rajbhar, Samajwadi Party is continuously fighting against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). You have an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party and are continuously working to strengthen the BJP. If you think that you will get more respect, then you are free to go there.”

    The letter to Shivpal read: “Honourable Shivpal Singh Yadav, if you feel that you will get more respect somewhere, then you are free to go there.”

    READ HERE | Don’t need anyone’s advice: Akhilesh Yadav on Rajbhar’s advice for SP, BSP to join hands

    Om Prakash Rajbhar’s proximity to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was visible in the presidential election.

    Meanwhile, the UP government has provided ‘Y category’ security to Rajbhar.

    After the SP’s defeat in Azamgarh and Rampur Lok Sabha bypolls, Rajbhar had advised Akhilesh Yadav to go among the people and not do politics from an air-conditioned room.

    Rajbhar’s party won six seats in the recent state assembly elections in alliance with the state’s main opposition Samajwadi Party (SP).

    Rajbhar, a strong backward leader with influence in eastern UP districts, fought the 2017 assembly election in UP with the BJP but later parted ways and joined the SP-led alliance.

    LUCKNOW: The Samajwadi Party on Saturday told allies Omprakash Rajbhar and Shivpal Singh Yadav that they are free to go, signalling a break-up after the two supported the BJP presidential candidate in the just concluded polls.

    Rajbhar said he has “accepted the divorce” given by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav too gave similar indication.

    In a letter to Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president Omprakash Rajbhar, the SP said while they are fighting the BJP, Rajbhar “has a partnership” with the saffron party and was helping it.

    It said he is free to go if he feels he will get more respect there.

    In a similar letter to Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) President Shivpal Singh Yadav, the SP said that “he can go where he gets more respect”.

    The SP shared the letters on its official Twitter handle.

    Shivpal Yadav replied tersely to the SP’s move.

    pic.twitter.com/qc7T8GJAlr
    — Samajwadi Party (@samajwadiparty) July 23, 2022
    “Although I was always free, I sincerely thank the Samajwadi Party from the heart for giving me formal independence by issuing a letter. Compromising on principles and respect is unacceptable in a political journey,” he tweeted in Hindi.

    Rajbhar hit out at Akhilesh Yadav.

    “It is bad if I meet Yogi (Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath) but it is very good if Akhilesh Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav meet him,” he said, and warned the SP chief that the effect of his action “will be known by the 2024 elections”.

    Asked about his next step, he said that he will hold talks with the Bahujan Samaj Party.

    He also said that “Shivpal Yadav is our leader and we keep in touch with him”.

    The development came after Rajbhar and Shivpal Yadav supported the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu who defeated Yashwant Sinha, the opposition nominee supported by SP.

    In 2018, Shivpal Singh Yadav formed his new party after he was sidelined by Akhilesh Yadav.

    Akhilesh Yadav had reached out to his estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav ahead of the recent Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls and the latter had won the election from the Jaswant Nagar constituency on the SP symbol.

    However, the ties remained strained between the two.

    The Samajwadi Party had fought the recent Uttar Pradesh assembly polls together with Jayant Chaudhary’s RLD, Rajbhar’s SBSP, Apna Dal (Kamerawadi), Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia), Keshav Dev Maurya’s Mahan Dal and the Janwadi Party.

    But after the alliance failed to dislodge the BJP, there was much speculation about it falling apart.

    The Mahan Dal and the Janwadi Party have already severed ties with the SP.

    The SP is now left with only RLD and Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) as alliance partners.

    In the letter written in Hindi sent to Rajbhar, the SP said, “Shri Omprakash Rajbhar, Samajwadi Party is continuously fighting against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). You have an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party and are continuously working to strengthen the BJP. If you think that you will get more respect, then you are free to go there.”

    The letter to Shivpal read: “Honourable Shivpal Singh Yadav, if you feel that you will get more respect somewhere, then you are free to go there.”

    READ HERE | Don’t need anyone’s advice: Akhilesh Yadav on Rajbhar’s advice for SP, BSP to join hands

    Om Prakash Rajbhar’s proximity to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party was visible in the presidential election.

    Meanwhile, the UP government has provided ‘Y category’ security to Rajbhar.

    After the SP’s defeat in Azamgarh and Rampur Lok Sabha bypolls, Rajbhar had advised Akhilesh Yadav to go among the people and not do politics from an air-conditioned room.

    Rajbhar’s party won six seats in the recent state assembly elections in alliance with the state’s main opposition Samajwadi Party (SP).

    Rajbhar, a strong backward leader with influence in eastern UP districts, fought the 2017 assembly election in UP with the BJP but later parted ways and joined the SP-led alliance.

  • Samajwadi Party’s Azam Khan gets relief: SC sets aside Allahabad HC order on bail condition

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Friday set aside a part of the Allahabad High Court order concerning bail conditions imposed on Samajwadi Party MLA Azam Khan by which the District Magistrate of Rampur was directed to take possession of land attached to the Jauhar University campus.

    The apex court observed that it is “disturbed about this trend” where the high court has referred to a matter which is unrelated to the consideration of prayer for bail.

    While setting aside the bail condition imposed by the high court directing the District Magistrate to take possession of the land, a bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and J B Pardiwala retained the other conditions which were relevant for the grant of bail to Khan, who is the Chancellor of Jauhar University.

    “This is yet another matter where we find that the high court has referred to matters which are unrelated to the consideration of prayer for bail relating to the crime registered against the concerned accused,” the bench said.

    It noted that Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the state, has urged the court to impose additional conditions that Khan be directed to refrain from entering Rampur district during the bail period.

    “We are not impressed by this submission,” the bench said.

    The apex court said the authorities, acting upon the observations made in the high court judgement, had initiated action including sealing of certain premises as noted in a May 18 communication.

    “All actions taken by the revenue authorities or state authorities in reference to the observations made in the impugned bail order dated May 10, 2022, be deemed to have been effaced from the record,” it said.

    However, the bench said it would not preclude the competent authority to initiate action independently based on other tangible material, information/documents, or evidence available to initiate action under the concerned legislation, including in respect of the management and properties of the university.

    “In terms of these observations, we direct the joint magistrate/deputy district magistrate to take immediate steps for unsealing the property referred to in the communication dated May 18, 2022,” the bench said.

    The top court disposed of the pleas, including the appeal filed by Khan against the May 10 order of the high court.

    On May 27, a vacation bench of the top court stayed the high court’s bail condition imposed on Khan directing the District Magistrate to take possession of the land attached to the Jauhar University campus.

    It had said that prima facie the bail condition imposed on Khan was disproportionate and sounds like a decree of a civil court.

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Friday set aside a part of the Allahabad High Court order concerning bail conditions imposed on Samajwadi Party MLA Azam Khan by which the District Magistrate of Rampur was directed to take possession of land attached to the Jauhar University campus.

    The apex court observed that it is “disturbed about this trend” where the high court has referred to a matter which is unrelated to the consideration of prayer for bail.

    While setting aside the bail condition imposed by the high court directing the District Magistrate to take possession of the land, a bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and J B Pardiwala retained the other conditions which were relevant for the grant of bail to Khan, who is the Chancellor of Jauhar University.

    “This is yet another matter where we find that the high court has referred to matters which are unrelated to the consideration of prayer for bail relating to the crime registered against the concerned accused,” the bench said.

    It noted that Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the state, has urged the court to impose additional conditions that Khan be directed to refrain from entering Rampur district during the bail period.

    “We are not impressed by this submission,” the bench said.

    The apex court said the authorities, acting upon the observations made in the high court judgement, had initiated action including sealing of certain premises as noted in a May 18 communication.

    “All actions taken by the revenue authorities or state authorities in reference to the observations made in the impugned bail order dated May 10, 2022, be deemed to have been effaced from the record,” it said.

    However, the bench said it would not preclude the competent authority to initiate action independently based on other tangible material, information/documents, or evidence available to initiate action under the concerned legislation, including in respect of the management and properties of the university.

    “In terms of these observations, we direct the joint magistrate/deputy district magistrate to take immediate steps for unsealing the property referred to in the communication dated May 18, 2022,” the bench said.

    The top court disposed of the pleas, including the appeal filed by Khan against the May 10 order of the high court.

    On May 27, a vacation bench of the top court stayed the high court’s bail condition imposed on Khan directing the District Magistrate to take possession of the land attached to the Jauhar University campus.

    It had said that prima facie the bail condition imposed on Khan was disproportionate and sounds like a decree of a civil court.

  • Rajbhar’s party yet to take call on presidential election, keeps Opposition camp guessing

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW/BALLIA: Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, which has kept ally Samajwadi Party guessing on whom it will vote for in the presidential election, will take a call on Saturday after meeting SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, a party leader said.

    However, SP party leader Udaiveer Singh, whose name was taken by the SBSP leader for finalising the meeting, said “no such meeting has been fixed”.

    As chinks appear in the opposition alliance in Uttar Pradesh, the SBSP has been sending mixed signals on whether its MLAs will vote for opposition nominee Yashwant Sinha or ruling NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu.

    On Tuesday, an SBSP spokesperson maintained that the party still remained part of the SP-led alliance.

    SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar had earlier said he will announce the party s decision on the presidential election on Tuesday after meeting Akhilesh Yadav on the issue and other matters related to the alliance.

    But spokesperson Arun Rajbhar told PTI that a press conference scheduled for the day has been cancelled.

    He said the SBSP chief will soon meet Yadav.

    He said senior SP leader Udaiveer Singh had earlier told the SBSP that Yadav will meet them in a couple of days.

    He suggested that the planned meeting has got delayed because of the death of party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav’s wife Sadhna Yadav.

    “After having a meeting with Akhilesh Yadav regarding the presidential election, a press conference will be held in Lucknow on July 16,” the SBSP spokesperson, who is party chief’s son, said.

    However, SP leader and former MLC Udaiveer Singh denied claims of the SBSP leader regarding meeting with Akhilesh Yadav.

    “Neither such a meeting is fixed, nor anyone from SBSP has talked to SP or me for seeking the time (from SP Chief),” Singh clarified in a tweet in Hindi.

    Arun Rajbhar earlier maintained that the party remained an ally of the SP.

    “The SBSP is with the SP and will remain with it in the future as well,” he said.

    When asked about a party meeting Tuesday in Ballia s Rasra, he said, “Discussions were held on expanding the party organisation.

    The SBSP chief said that a meeting will be held (with Akhilesh Yadav) by July 16, after which “we will make it clear whom we will vote for,” he said.

    Om Prakash Rajbhar had created a flutter in the opposition camp by attending a dinner hosted by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow last Friday.

    It signalled cracks in the opposition alliance and triggered speculation that Rajbhar could walk out of the coalition that fought the recent assembly election together.

    Shivpal Yadav, who heads the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia), formally an SP ally, also attended the dinner hosted for Murmu.

    Jansatta Dal Loktantrik chief Raghuraj Pratap Singh, also known as Raja Bhaiya, and the lone Bahujan Samaj Party MLA in Uttar Pradesh, Uma Shankar Singh, were also present there.

  • Opposition unity shatters in Uttar Pradesh ahead of presidential polls

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: The opposition unity received a big jolt on Friday when Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s uncle Shivpal Yadav and SP ally OP Rajbhar, chief of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), arrived at UP CM Yogi Aditynath’s official residence to attend the dinner hosted by him in honour of NDA’s presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu on Friday night.

    Murmu had arrived in Lucknow on Friday afternoon to meet the MLAs and muster support for her.

    Moreover, besides the BJP and its allies including Apna Dal (S) and NISHAD party, Jansatta Dal chief Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya and BSP’s lone MLA Umashankar Singh were also present in the dinner committing support to Murmu.

    While Jansatta Dal has two MLAs, BSP chief Mayawati had already committed support of her lone MLA to Murmu a day after the announcement of her candidature by the NDA.

    However, the presence of Shivpal Yadav and OP Rajbhar is being witnessed as a big jolt to opposition unity in the state ahead of the presidential elections due on July 18.

    While Shivpal had won the Jaswantnagar Assembly seat on the SP ticket, Rajbhar’s SBSP had contested the Assembly elections in alliance with the Samajwadi Party, winning six seats. Significantly, both Shivpal and OP Rajbhar had been sulking for quite some time and going public with their views against the SP leadership.

    The immediate flashpoint in SP-SBSP ties reached after Rajbhar was not invited to the meeting called by Akhilesh Yadav to drum up support for the opposition’s presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha who was in Lucknow on Thursday.

    As per the highly placed sources, SP kept the SBSP chief waiting while inviting Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhury to the meeting.

    Meanwhile, a senior SP leader downplayed Rajbhar’s presence in the NDA camp saying that it was much expected as the SBSP chief had met the BJP leaders four days back and that was the reason he was not invited to the meeting convened by the SP chief on Thursday.

    However, the Friday development may go a long way in changing the flavour of UP politics ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as the SP-led alliance seems to be on the rocks.

  • Mayawati’s Dalit-Muslim formula helped BJP win Azamgarh easily

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW:  While Samajwadi Party lost its bastions Rampur and Azamgarh to the BJP, the performance of BSP stands out, indicating that party chief Mayawati succeeded in re-stitching the Dalit-Muslim formula. It made the BJP’s win easy, especially in Azamgarh, where BSP fielded Shah Alam alias Guddu Jamali. However, the party did not field its candidate in Rampur, leaving it to be a straight BJP-SP fight.

    An upbeat Mayawati on Monday exhorted her cadre to maintain the fervour with which they worked in Azamgarh for 2024. In the bypolls, winner Dinesh Lal Yadav ‘Nirauhua’ of BJP got 3,12,768 votes while the runner up, SP’s Dharmendra Yadav, got 3,04,089 votes. Jamali got a considerable chunk of 2,66,210 votes. The margin of Nirhaua’s win indicates that Jamali garnered a major chunk of Muslim and Dalit votes, reducing Yadav’s tally.

    Hence, while the defeat has put the SP under distress, the BSP is elated at the return of Muslim votes into its kitty. A few months ago, SP had wrested all 10 Assembly segments in Azamgarh, securing 4.35 lakh votes, followed by the BJP which got 3.30 lakh votes and BSP with 2.24 lakh votes. The Muslim consolidation in favour of SP had led to its victory on all seats, while the BSP had got only a small number of Muslim votes.

    As per political experts, Mayawati’s Dalit-Muslim formula led to the rise in BSP’s vote share from 2.24 lakh to 2.66 lakh in the bypoll. However, the vote share of SP dwindled from 4.35 lakh in the Assembly polls to 3.04 lakh in the bypoll.

    “The BSP put up an impressive show dealing a major dent to SP in Azamgarh as it had turned into a battle of local leader versus an outsider. Jamali has a good influence due to his accessibility, irrespective of the caste and religion. Also, the support extended by Rashtriya Ulam Council and AIMIM to Jamali made the fight more difficult for Dharmendra Yadav,” says Prof AK Mishra of the Political Science Department of Lucknow University.

    In Rampur, the BSP didn’t field any candidate against SP’s Asim Raja and BJP candidate Ghanshyam Lodhi. The saffron party got a majority of Dalit votes, and Lodhi defeated the SP candidate by 42,192 votes.

    Three-way fightIn Azamgarh, Mayawati succeeded in re-stitching the Dalit-Muslim formula, making the BJP’s win easy. The BSP did not field its candidate in Rampur, leaving it to be a straight BJP-SP fight

  • BJP tries disrupt polling, misused power: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday accused the ruling BJP of misuse of power in the bypolls to the Azamgarh and Rampur Lok Sabha seats, alleging that efforts were made to disrupt voting.

    He alleged that though the Election Commission was informed about the developments, the election machinery remained a mute spectator. The party workers were harassed and undue pressure was created on them to vote for BJP candidates, he alleged.

    “The BJP misused power in the bypolls to Azamgarh and Rampur. Hurdles were created by the ruling party to disrupt polling. Though the EC was informed, the entire election machinery remained a mute spectator. Voters were not allowed to vote without fear,” Yadav said in a statement issued here.

    Yadav alleged that all this was done in a planned way. “Fake voting was done and EVMs were found faulty in various booths,” he said, adding that in Assembly constituencies of Gopalpur, Sagdi, Mubarakpur, Azamgarh, Mehnagar in Azamgarh, party agents were removed from booths.

    Women belonging to a minority community were stopped from voting in the Rampur’s Suar Assembly constituency and Narpat Nagar, he said, adding that police resorted to a lathicharge to create fear.