News Analysis India

Tag: Shivpal Yadav

  • 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.

  • Post Akhilesh-Shivpal patch-up, BJP may have sleepless nights

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW:  The merger of Shivpal Yadav-led Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia and Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party prompt the BJP to return to the drawing board to devise a fresh strategy for not only the big battle of 2024 but also the upcoming civic polls. The SP has decided to fight the urban local body polls on its symbol for the first time.

    The Akhilesh-Shivpal reunion had been visible since the demise of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. It has now been cemented by Dimple Yadav’s victory. Hours after Akhilesh presented his party flag to Shivpal in Saifai on Thursday, the latter and his son Aditya changed their Twitter accounts to identify themselves as SP leaders.

    “In the coming days, chachaji will be given a bigger role in Samajwadi Party and his party workers will be given due respect,” Akhilesh said. Dimple’s victory in Mainpuri with a margin of over 2.88 lakh votes over BJP’s Raghuraj Singh Shakya consolidated the reconciliation between Akhilesh and Shivpal. 

    “Being seen as homecoming, the merger of his party with SP will strengthen the hands of not only Akhilesh but also reduce the challenges for Shivpal who had been side lined,” Reoti Raman Singh, an SP veteran, said.

    The family feud had hurt the prospects of the uncle and nephew in three polls since 2017, and the BJP had cashed in on it. “Akhilesh would get the benefit of this reunion in potato belt comprising Kannauj, Firozabad, Auraiyya, Etawah, Mainpuri and Farrukhbad as Shivpal has a respectable following here,” JP Shukla, a political commentator, said.  

    LUCKNOW:  The merger of Shivpal Yadav-led Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia and Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party prompt the BJP to return to the drawing board to devise a fresh strategy for not only the big battle of 2024 but also the upcoming civic polls. The SP has decided to fight the urban local body polls on its symbol for the first time.

    The Akhilesh-Shivpal reunion had been visible since the demise of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. It has now been cemented by Dimple Yadav’s victory. Hours after Akhilesh presented his party flag to Shivpal in Saifai on Thursday, the latter and his son Aditya changed their Twitter accounts to identify themselves as SP leaders.

    “In the coming days, chachaji will be given a bigger role in Samajwadi Party and his party workers will be given due respect,” Akhilesh said. Dimple’s victory in Mainpuri with a margin of over 2.88 lakh votes over BJP’s Raghuraj Singh Shakya consolidated the reconciliation between Akhilesh and Shivpal. 

    “Being seen as homecoming, the merger of his party with SP will strengthen the hands of not only Akhilesh but also reduce the challenges for Shivpal who had been side lined,” Reoti Raman Singh, an SP veteran, said.

    The family feud had hurt the prospects of the uncle and nephew in three polls since 2017, and the BJP had cashed in on it. “Akhilesh would get the benefit of this reunion in potato belt comprising Kannauj, Firozabad, Auraiyya, Etawah, Mainpuri and Farrukhbad as Shivpal has a respectable following here,” JP Shukla, a political commentator, said. 
     

  • Shivpal, Akhilesh Yadav come together in UP; merge PSPL with Samajwadi Party

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Amid the joy and celebrations of the resounding victory of Dimple Yadav, the SP candidate in the Mainpuri Lok Sabha bypoll, uncle Shivpal Yadav buried the hatchet with nephew Akhilesh Yadav and merged his Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia (PSPL) with the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Saifai on Thursday.

    Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav cemented the merger of PSPL with SP by presenting his party flag to Shivpal Singh Yadav in his native village Safai. As per the party sources, both the leaders sat together in Saifai where Akhilesh presented his party’s flag to his uncle. Later, they posted photographs of the event on Twitter.

    An SP flag was also mounted on Shivpal Singh Yadav’s car by the party’s workers reflecting the possible coming together of the two parties. Confirming the merger, Shivpal told the media persons in Saifai that from now onwards he would be fulfilling whatever responsibility he would be given by the SP chief. “We have merged Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) with Samajwadi Party.

    In 2024, we will fight unitedly. From today, there will be a Samajwadi Party flag (on my car),” said Shivpal. With turbulent ties for the last five years, ‘chacha-bhatija’ finally came together to ensure the victory of Dimple Yadav in the bypoll necessitated due to the demise of SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav.

    In fact, Akhilesh along with Dimple broke the ice ahead of the Mainpuri bypoll by reaching out to Shivpal at his Etawah residence seeking his support to ensure Dimple’s victory in Mainpuri. Shivpal Yadav had also extensively campaigned for Dimple Yadav after her candidature was announced in the constituency vacated by her father-in-law’s death.

    In fact, Shivpal and Akhilesh had come together during the UP Assembly polls in 2022 when Shivpal contested on an SP ticket from the Jaswantnagar seat and won it with a margin of 28,000 votes. However, Shivpal was not content with the alliance with SP as Akhilesh had allegedly refused to spare more seats for PSPL.

    Rift re-emerged between Akhilesh and Shivpal after the latter expressed his annoyance with SP chief publicly over not being invited to SP MLAs’ meeting just after the assembly poll results.

    In the mean times, Shivpal’s growing proximity with the BJP leaders and his meeting with Yogi Adityanath triggered many reactions from the SP camp and his alliance with SP was broken on a bitter note when Akhilesh freed him and asked him to focus on his party.

    However, SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav’s death in October brought the Yadavs together again.

    LUCKNOW: Amid the joy and celebrations of the resounding victory of Dimple Yadav, the SP candidate in the Mainpuri Lok Sabha bypoll, uncle Shivpal Yadav buried the hatchet with nephew Akhilesh Yadav and merged his Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia (PSPL) with the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Saifai on Thursday.

    Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav cemented the merger of PSPL with SP by presenting his party flag to Shivpal Singh Yadav in his native village Safai. As per the party sources, both the leaders sat together in Saifai where Akhilesh presented his party’s flag to his uncle. Later, they posted photographs of the event on Twitter.

    An SP flag was also mounted on Shivpal Singh Yadav’s car by the party’s workers reflecting the possible coming together of the two parties. Confirming the merger, Shivpal told the media persons in Saifai that from now onwards he would be fulfilling whatever responsibility he would be given by the SP chief. “We have merged Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) with Samajwadi Party.

    In 2024, we will fight unitedly. From today, there will be a Samajwadi Party flag (on my car),” said Shivpal. With turbulent ties for the last five years, ‘chacha-bhatija’ finally came together to ensure the victory of Dimple Yadav in the bypoll necessitated due to the demise of SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav.

    In fact, Akhilesh along with Dimple broke the ice ahead of the Mainpuri bypoll by reaching out to Shivpal at his Etawah residence seeking his support to ensure Dimple’s victory in Mainpuri. Shivpal Yadav had also extensively campaigned for Dimple Yadav after her candidature was announced in the constituency vacated by her father-in-law’s death.

    In fact, Shivpal and Akhilesh had come together during the UP Assembly polls in 2022 when Shivpal contested on an SP ticket from the Jaswantnagar seat and won it with a margin of 28,000 votes. However, Shivpal was not content with the alliance with SP as Akhilesh had allegedly refused to spare more seats for PSPL.

    Rift re-emerged between Akhilesh and Shivpal after the latter expressed his annoyance with SP chief publicly over not being invited to SP MLAs’ meeting just after the assembly poll results.

    In the mean times, Shivpal’s growing proximity with the BJP leaders and his meeting with Yogi Adityanath triggered many reactions from the SP camp and his alliance with SP was broken on a bitter note when Akhilesh freed him and asked him to focus on his party.

    However, SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav’s death in October brought the Yadavs together again.

  • Shivpal’s bonhomie with Akhilesh lands him in hot water

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Gravitating towards Samajwadi Party chief and nephew Akhilesh Yadav, Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party -Lohia (PSPL) chief Shivpal Yadav seems to have landed in hot water.

    Shivpal Yadav is actively campaigning for Dimple Yadav, the SP candidate for the upcoming by-poll to the Mainpuri Lok Sabah seat.

    The sword of Damocles hangs over Shivpal’s head as the UP government downgraded his security cover from ‘Z’ to ‘Y’ category on Monday. Moreover, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought permission to interrogate him in connection with the multi-crore Gomti Riverfront scam in Lucknow. There is a threat of his losing his plush bungalow in Lucknow allotted to him by the Yogi government in 2018.

    The bungalow was allotted to him by virtue of being an MLA from Jaswantnagar. He had been using it as his party office ignoring all the norms. Even the authorities had been looking the other way so far as Shivpal had been blowing hot and cold about his relation with nephew Akhilesh and often praising Yogi government for keeping the possibility of aligning with the BJP open during the last 5 years.

    Shivpal had parted ways from SP and floated his own outfit –PSPL — following an intense family feud for one-upmanship over the party in 2018.

    Just ahead of the 2022 assembly polls, Akhilesh had approached Shivpal and successfully persuaded him to contest on SP ticket from Jaswantnagar. Shivpal won the seat but ended the alliance with Akhilesh on a bitter note accusing the SP chief of insulting and ignoring him by not inviting him to the meeting of SP MLAs.

    Even Akhilesh did little to save alliance with uncle and asked him to focus more on his own party than SP.

    The demise of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav once again brought the two close. After announcing the candidature of Dimple for Mainpuri bypoll, Akhilesh, flanked by wife, reached out to Shivpal knowing well his significance in winning over voters in Mainpuri where Shivpal had put his sweat and blood along with Mulayam to build the party organisation.

    Now with Shivpal and Akhilesh united and Shivpal holding an aggressive campaign in favour of Dimple Yadav, the state government has apparently increased the pressure on PSPL chief.

    With reference to Shivpal’s role in Gomti Riverfront project, he was state Irrigation Minister when the Gomti riverfront project was executed during the SP government’s tenure (2012-17).After coming to power in 2017, Yogi government ordered the first probe into alleged irregularities in Gomti Riverfront Project and got an FIR lodged against several people, including senior officials of the irrigation department on June 19, 2017. Later the probe was handed over to the CBI.

    However, the investigation into the scam had reportedly slowed down after the split between Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal and the perceived rising proximity between Shivpal and the BJP in the past. 

    The CBI probe initially confirmed that a budget of Rs 1,513 crore was sanctioned for the project and around Rs 1,437 crore was spent without completing even 60 per cent of the project work despite over 95% of the estimated budget being spent. Multiple anomalies surfaced in the expenditure. Besides, the company that was allotted work of the riverfront beautification was a defaulter. The Enforcement Directorate had also initiated a probe under the Money Laundering Act.

    On February 17, 2021, the CBI had filed a charge sheet in the CBI court in Lucknow against six people, including two directors of the firm that was allotted the work of river channelisation, and subsequently, two irrigation engineers in Lucknow were arrested.

    Even the decision to downgrade Shivpal Yadav’s security cover apparently comes in the backdrop of his aggressive campaigning in favour of Dimple Yadav for the December 5 Mainpuri Lok Sabha by-election.

    PSPL chief Shivpal Yadav, reacting to media queries about the likely CBI investigation against him and three others in the alleged Gomti riverfront scam, said he was not aware of it and was hearing it from the media.

    “It is on expected lines.…I have always worked for the benefit of people within the rules and regulations,” said Shivpal while reacting to possible grilling by CBI in connection with Riverfront interrogation over phone. he told reporters in Jaswant Nagar, Etawah. Shivpal is also SP MLA from Jaswant Nagar.

    LUCKNOW: Gravitating towards Samajwadi Party chief and nephew Akhilesh Yadav, Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party -Lohia (PSPL) chief Shivpal Yadav seems to have landed in hot water.

    Shivpal Yadav is actively campaigning for Dimple Yadav, the SP candidate for the upcoming by-poll to the Mainpuri Lok Sabah seat.

    The sword of Damocles hangs over Shivpal’s head as the UP government downgraded his security cover from ‘Z’ to ‘Y’ category on Monday. Moreover, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought permission to interrogate him in connection with the multi-crore Gomti Riverfront scam in Lucknow. There is a threat of his losing his plush bungalow in Lucknow allotted to him by the Yogi government in 2018.

    The bungalow was allotted to him by virtue of being an MLA from Jaswantnagar. He had been using it as his party office ignoring all the norms. Even the authorities had been looking the other way so far as Shivpal had been blowing hot and cold about his relation with nephew Akhilesh and often praising Yogi government for keeping the possibility of aligning with the BJP open during the last 5 years.

    Shivpal had parted ways from SP and floated his own outfit –PSPL — following an intense family feud for one-upmanship over the party in 2018.

    Just ahead of the 2022 assembly polls, Akhilesh had approached Shivpal and successfully persuaded him to contest on SP ticket from Jaswantnagar. Shivpal won the seat but ended the alliance with Akhilesh on a bitter note accusing the SP chief of insulting and ignoring him by not inviting him to the meeting of SP MLAs.

    Even Akhilesh did little to save alliance with uncle and asked him to focus more on his own party than SP.

    The demise of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav once again brought the two close. After announcing the candidature of Dimple for Mainpuri bypoll, Akhilesh, flanked by wife, reached out to Shivpal knowing well his significance in winning over voters in Mainpuri where Shivpal had put his sweat and blood along with Mulayam to build the party organisation.

    Now with Shivpal and Akhilesh united and Shivpal holding an aggressive campaign in favour of Dimple Yadav, the state government has apparently increased the pressure on PSPL chief.

    With reference to Shivpal’s role in Gomti Riverfront project, he was state Irrigation Minister when the Gomti riverfront project was executed during the SP government’s tenure (2012-17).
    After coming to power in 2017, Yogi government ordered the first probe into alleged irregularities in Gomti Riverfront Project and got an FIR lodged against several people, including senior officials of the irrigation department on June 19, 2017. Later the probe was handed over to the CBI.

    However, the investigation into the scam had reportedly slowed down after the split between Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal and the perceived rising proximity between Shivpal and the BJP in the past. 

    The CBI probe initially confirmed that a budget of Rs 1,513 crore was sanctioned for the project and around Rs 1,437 crore was spent without completing even 60 per cent of the project work despite over 95% of the estimated budget being spent. Multiple anomalies surfaced in the expenditure. Besides, the company that was allotted work of the riverfront beautification was a defaulter. The Enforcement Directorate had also initiated a probe under the Money Laundering Act.

    On February 17, 2021, the CBI had filed a charge sheet in the CBI court in Lucknow against six people, including two directors of the firm that was allotted the work of river channelisation, and subsequently, two irrigation engineers in Lucknow were arrested.

    Even the decision to downgrade Shivpal Yadav’s security cover apparently comes in the backdrop of his aggressive campaigning in favour of Dimple Yadav for the December 5 Mainpuri Lok Sabha by-election.

    PSPL chief Shivpal Yadav, reacting to media queries about the likely CBI investigation against him and three others in the alleged Gomti riverfront scam, said he was not aware of it and was hearing it from the media.

    “It is on expected lines.…I have always worked for the benefit of people within the rules and regulations,” said Shivpal while reacting to possible grilling by CBI in connection with Riverfront interrogation over phone. he told reporters in Jaswant Nagar, Etawah. Shivpal is also SP MLA from Jaswant Nagar.

  • Mainpuri bypoll campaign: Akhilesh Yadav touches uncle Shivpal’s feet at election rally

    By PTI

    ETAWAH: In a show of bonhomie during the campaign for the Mainpuri Lok Sabha bypoll, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday touched the feet of his uncle Shivpal Yadav and asserted that there has never been any strain in their relationship.

    Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) chief Shivpal Singh Yadav termed the bypolls a high stake contest, and told the audience that the family has become one.

    He also said that the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government peddles a lot of lies.

    Addressing an election rally in the family bastion of Saifai, Akhilesh Yadav asserted that his party will register a historic win in the bypoll.

    Dimple Yadav, the wife of Akhilesh Yadav, has been fielded from the seat, which has been represented by the SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav.

    The bypoll was necessitated due to the death of Mulayam Singh last month.

    “The bypolls are taking place at a time when ‘Netaji’ (Mulayam Singh Yadav) is not among us. The entire country is watching this election, and I can say that the entire country will see how the Samajwadi Party registers a historic win,” Akhilesh Yadav said.

    After remaining at loggerheads since 2017, Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle had decided to mend fences before the 2022 Assembly polls.

    Both had put up a united front at the behest of Mulayam Singh Yadav.

    #WATCH | Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav meets PSP chief Shivpal Yadav, touches his feet atop the stage while campaigning for the byelections in Mainpuri, UP pic.twitter.com/c82LOivUqb
    — ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) November 20, 2022
    However, the cracks appeared again after the poll in which the BJP came back to power.

    “At times people say that there is ‘dooriyaan’ (distance). There was no ‘dooriyaan’ between ‘chacha’ (uncle) and ‘bhatija’ (nephew). ‘Dooriyaan’ was there in politics. I had never considered any ‘dooriyaan’ between uncle and nephew. And, I am happy that today the ‘dooriyaan’ in politics has also ended,” Akhilesh Yadav said to a rousing applause from public.

    “And it is because of this that the BJP is feeling frightened. It knows that the people of Jaswantnagar have made up their mind to vote for the SP. Karhal is also walking along, and the people of Mainpuri too have made up their mind ,” the SP chief said.

    Jaswantnagar and Karhal are represented by Shivpal and Akhilesh Yadav respectively in the UP assembly.

    The poll campaign on Sunday saw Akhilesh Yadav, Shivpal Yadav and SP general secretary Ramgopal Yadav sharing the stage.

    During the rally, Akhilesh Yadav also said that this is the first government (referring to the BJP), which has forgotten its promises.

    “When there is a strain in a relationship they say that there is a feud, and when we become one, they would term us as ‘parivaar vaadi’ party. This is the problem of the BJP people and it will remain, because everywhere they look out for shortcomings,” he said.

    “It is BJP propaganda that aims to show us as a party of one family, a party of one caste, and seek support of people of one particular religion. ‘Netaji’ has always taught us the politics of brotherhood and amity, and how to give respect to people,” Akhilesh Yadav said.

    The SP chief urged the party workers to walk on the path shown by his father, and change the course of the country and that of the society.

    “The BJP should not make any claims on development. They can make claims about potholes on the road or that of corruption,” he said, and added that whatever development has taken place in the region, it is because of the ‘Samajwadis.’

    He cited Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences in Saifai as an example of such progress.

    “Had ‘Netaji’ not been adamant, the Lucknow-Agra expressway would not have been made in 23 months. This expressway was found to be the best expressway in the country. When he was invited for the foundation stone laying ceremony, he had said that he would lay the foundation stone only when he knew the date of inauguration. The day on which the foundation stone was laid was the birthday of ‘Netaji’, and the day when it was inaugurated was also his birthday,” the SP chief said.

    He also said that the ongoing bypolls are important as after the BJP’s defeat in Bengal and change in power equation in Bihar, it was UP’s turn to halt the victory run of BJP and prevent it from coming to power at the centre.

    Akhilesh Yadav said that in line with an advice given by Ramgopal Yadav — given earlier in the meeting, he said — the party has to take stock of the EVMs till the very end to prevent any malfeasance. “Because this government will not tell you where 20 lakh EVMs have disappeared. Last time you made us win the polls, but the administration defeated us. In the (postal) ballot, we won almost 300 seats.”

    Shivpal Singh Yadav said, “Reputation is at stake in this election. Dimple is our daughter-in-law. Everyone who is sitting here carries a part of ‘Netaji.’ This is a fight for honour, and all the records have to be made in this election itself. This is true that you have told us to unite, and we have become one. And now it is your responsibility to ensure a victory by record margin. Whenever such challenges have sprung before the people of Jaswantnagar, they have emerged victorious,” Shivpal Singh Yadav said.

    He also said that ever since the BJP came to power in UP, the problems of the people have only increased.

    “The BJP government peddles a lot of misinformation. We want to know that in the past 10 years, has it done any work for the people of UP?” he said.

    “BJP has encouraged poverty, unemployment, corruption. It has worked to disturb the people of the entire state. If the public has to go to any office, they have to pay a bribe,” he said.

    Akhilesh Yadav had on last Thursday met the PSPL chief along with Dimple Yadav, and shared a picture of them together.

    In a tweet after the meeting, Akhilesh Yadav had then said, “Along with the blessings of Netaji and elders of the family, the people of Mainpuri are also with us.”

    Exhorting the party workers to ensure the party’s win, Ramgopal Yadav said, “When you have defeated the BJP in the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat, then people will realise that the BJP too can be defeated, not only in Mainpuri, but also in the state and in the country.”

    “The country is being run by a dictatorial government. Everyone is tortured, and no one is getting any relief. Some people of the BJP were telling us yesterday that the work which used to cost Rs 100 in the earlier government, now costs at least Rs 1,000. There is loot in police stations and tehsil (offices),” he said.

    On Wednesday, Shivpal Yadav had held a meeting with the party workers for the bypoll.

    Shivpal Singh Yadav’s role in the election assumes importance as his assembly constituency Jaswantnagar comes under the Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency.

    He has a close relationship with the people of Mainpuri and used to go as Mulayam’s representative in various programmes there whenever the SP patriarch was unavailable.

    The PSP(L) chief’s campaigning in favour of Dimple is also considered important as Raghuraj Singh Shakya, BJP’s nominee from the seat, was once a close aide of him.

    Polling in Mainpuri will be held on December 5, while counting of votes will take place on December 8.

    The Mainpuri parliamentary constituency has five assembly segments of Mainpuri, Bhongaon, Kishni, Karhal and Jaswant Nagar.

    In the 2022 assembly elections, the SP won the Karhal, Kishni and the Jaswantnagar seats, while the BJP won the Mainpuri and the Bhogaon seats.

    Akhilesh’s Karhal assembly seat is also part of Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency.

    ETAWAH: In a show of bonhomie during the campaign for the Mainpuri Lok Sabha bypoll, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday touched the feet of his uncle Shivpal Yadav and asserted that there has never been any strain in their relationship.

    Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) chief Shivpal Singh Yadav termed the bypolls a high stake contest, and told the audience that the family has become one.

    He also said that the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government peddles a lot of lies.

    Addressing an election rally in the family bastion of Saifai, Akhilesh Yadav asserted that his party will register a historic win in the bypoll.

    Dimple Yadav, the wife of Akhilesh Yadav, has been fielded from the seat, which has been represented by the SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav.

    The bypoll was necessitated due to the death of Mulayam Singh last month.

    “The bypolls are taking place at a time when ‘Netaji’ (Mulayam Singh Yadav) is not among us. The entire country is watching this election, and I can say that the entire country will see how the Samajwadi Party registers a historic win,” Akhilesh Yadav said.

    After remaining at loggerheads since 2017, Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle had decided to mend fences before the 2022 Assembly polls.

    Both had put up a united front at the behest of Mulayam Singh Yadav.

    #WATCH | Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav meets PSP chief Shivpal Yadav, touches his feet atop the stage while campaigning for the byelections in Mainpuri, UP pic.twitter.com/c82LOivUqb
    — ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) November 20, 2022
    However, the cracks appeared again after the poll in which the BJP came back to power.

    “At times people say that there is ‘dooriyaan’ (distance). There was no ‘dooriyaan’ between ‘chacha’ (uncle) and ‘bhatija’ (nephew). ‘Dooriyaan’ was there in politics. I had never considered any ‘dooriyaan’ between uncle and nephew. And, I am happy that today the ‘dooriyaan’ in politics has also ended,” Akhilesh Yadav said to a rousing applause from public.

    “And it is because of this that the BJP is feeling frightened. It knows that the people of Jaswantnagar have made up their mind to vote for the SP. Karhal is also walking along, and the people of Mainpuri too have made up their mind ,” the SP chief said.

    Jaswantnagar and Karhal are represented by Shivpal and Akhilesh Yadav respectively in the UP assembly.

    The poll campaign on Sunday saw Akhilesh Yadav, Shivpal Yadav and SP general secretary Ramgopal Yadav sharing the stage.

    During the rally, Akhilesh Yadav also said that this is the first government (referring to the BJP), which has forgotten its promises.

    “When there is a strain in a relationship they say that there is a feud, and when we become one, they would term us as ‘parivaar vaadi’ party. This is the problem of the BJP people and it will remain, because everywhere they look out for shortcomings,” he said.

    “It is BJP propaganda that aims to show us as a party of one family, a party of one caste, and seek support of people of one particular religion. ‘Netaji’ has always taught us the politics of brotherhood and amity, and how to give respect to people,” Akhilesh Yadav said.

    The SP chief urged the party workers to walk on the path shown by his father, and change the course of the country and that of the society.

    “The BJP should not make any claims on development. They can make claims about potholes on the road or that of corruption,” he said, and added that whatever development has taken place in the region, it is because of the ‘Samajwadis.’

    He cited Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences in Saifai as an example of such progress.

    “Had ‘Netaji’ not been adamant, the Lucknow-Agra expressway would not have been made in 23 months. This expressway was found to be the best expressway in the country. When he was invited for the foundation stone laying ceremony, he had said that he would lay the foundation stone only when he knew the date of inauguration. The day on which the foundation stone was laid was the birthday of ‘Netaji’, and the day when it was inaugurated was also his birthday,” the SP chief said.

    He also said that the ongoing bypolls are important as after the BJP’s defeat in Bengal and change in power equation in Bihar, it was UP’s turn to halt the victory run of BJP and prevent it from coming to power at the centre.

    Akhilesh Yadav said that in line with an advice given by Ramgopal Yadav — given earlier in the meeting, he said — the party has to take stock of the EVMs till the very end to prevent any malfeasance. “Because this government will not tell you where 20 lakh EVMs have disappeared. Last time you made us win the polls, but the administration defeated us. In the (postal) ballot, we won almost 300 seats.”

    Shivpal Singh Yadav said, “Reputation is at stake in this election. Dimple is our daughter-in-law. Everyone who is sitting here carries a part of ‘Netaji.’ This is a fight for honour, and all the records have to be made in this election itself. This is true that you have told us to unite, and we have become one. And now it is your responsibility to ensure a victory by record margin. Whenever such challenges have sprung before the people of Jaswantnagar, they have emerged victorious,” Shivpal Singh Yadav said.

    He also said that ever since the BJP came to power in UP, the problems of the people have only increased.

    “The BJP government peddles a lot of misinformation. We want to know that in the past 10 years, has it done any work for the people of UP?” he said.

    “BJP has encouraged poverty, unemployment, corruption. It has worked to disturb the people of the entire state. If the public has to go to any office, they have to pay a bribe,” he said.

    Akhilesh Yadav had on last Thursday met the PSPL chief along with Dimple Yadav, and shared a picture of them together.

    In a tweet after the meeting, Akhilesh Yadav had then said, “Along with the blessings of Netaji and elders of the family, the people of Mainpuri are also with us.”

    Exhorting the party workers to ensure the party’s win, Ramgopal Yadav said, “When you have defeated the BJP in the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat, then people will realise that the BJP too can be defeated, not only in Mainpuri, but also in the state and in the country.”

    “The country is being run by a dictatorial government. Everyone is tortured, and no one is getting any relief. Some people of the BJP were telling us yesterday that the work which used to cost Rs 100 in the earlier government, now costs at least Rs 1,000. There is loot in police stations and tehsil (offices),” he said.

    On Wednesday, Shivpal Yadav had held a meeting with the party workers for the bypoll.

    Shivpal Singh Yadav’s role in the election assumes importance as his assembly constituency Jaswantnagar comes under the Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency.

    He has a close relationship with the people of Mainpuri and used to go as Mulayam’s representative in various programmes there whenever the SP patriarch was unavailable.

    The PSP(L) chief’s campaigning in favour of Dimple is also considered important as Raghuraj Singh Shakya, BJP’s nominee from the seat, was once a close aide of him.

    Polling in Mainpuri will be held on December 5, while counting of votes will take place on December 8.

    The Mainpuri parliamentary constituency has five assembly segments of Mainpuri, Bhongaon, Kishni, Karhal and Jaswant Nagar.

    In the 2022 assembly elections, the SP won the Karhal, Kishni and the Jaswantnagar seats, while the BJP won the Mainpuri and the Bhogaon seats.

    Akhilesh’s Karhal assembly seat is also part of Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency.

  • Amid rift with Akhilesh, Shivpal meets Yogi triggering speculations

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Amid the rift with Samajwadi Party chief and nephew Akhilesh Yadav, Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia (PSP-L) chief Shivpal Yadav reached out to UP CM Yogi Adityanath paying him a visit at his official residence triggering speculation of realignment of political forces here on Wednesday evening.

    Shivpal, who is an MLA from Jaswantnagar in Etawah on SP symbol, however, called it a courtesy call meant to greet Yogi on his victory and return to power in UP.

    Earlier, in the day, Shivpal had reached Assembly where he was administered the oath of house as an MLA by the newly-appointed Speaker Satish Mahana.

    Coming out after the 20-minute meeting with Yogi, when the media persons asked Shivpal Yadav about his plans to join the BJP, he did not refute the possibility it saying that he had already taken the oath of the house and did not want to say more than that for now.

    The chasm in the first family of Samjawadi Party widened on Tuesday when Shivpal Yadav boycotted the meeting of allies called by Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow.

    In fact, Shivpal has been sulking since he was not invited to SP legislative party meeting in which Akhilesh was elected SPLP leader on Saturday. He had openly expressed his discontent over not being invited to SPLP meeting. The sources close to Shivpal Yadav claimed that the PSP-L chief wanted a bigger role in SP after he contested the recently concluded Assembly elections on SP symbol from Jaswantnagar sacrificing his own party.

    After Shivpal’s outburst, the SP issued a clarification saying that none of the allies were called to the meeting and Shivpal too was an ally. Whereas Shivpal contended that he was an SP MLA who contested and won the Jaswantnagar seat on SP symbol.

    In fact, Shivpal has been nurturing the discontent since his party was not spared even a single seat to contest in the recently concluded elections. 

    Even during the elections, Shivpal had expressed his chagrin by saying that he agreed to contest on SP symbols only to keep Mulayam Singh Yadav’s words.

    The PSPL sources claimed that during his recent Etawah visit, Shivpal consulted his supporters about his future course of action after the “disrespect” shown to him by SP chief. 

    It is believed that he got the full support of his supporters who promised to stand by him unconditionally.

    It may be recalled that Akhilesh had reached out to Shivpal ahead of Assembly elections offering him to contest the polls on SP symbol from Jaswantnagar and promising him the respect and honour as per his stature.

  • Rift within Yadav family widens, chinks appear in SP alliance post UP polls defeat

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: While the chasm in Yadav family seems to have widened further, the chinks in the armour of the alliance, led by the Samajwadi Party, surfaced on Tuesday.

    On one hand, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s uncle and Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia chief Shivpal Yadav boycotted the meeting of allies called by Akhilesh in Lucknow, on the other, an important ally Mahan Dal was not invited to the meeting which was convened to ascertain the reasons of alliance’s defeat in recently concluded UP elections.

    Even Apna Dal (K) leader Pallavi Patel, who had contested the assembly election on SP symbol from Sirathu defeating BJP’s Keshav Maurya, did not make it to the meeting. 

    However, the reason for her absence is said to be her unhappiness over the alleged SP’s treatment with allies.

    As per the invite shared by the SP on twitter, leaders of four parties—Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party’s (SBSP) OP Rajbhar, PSP-L chief Shivpal Yadav, Apna Dal (K)’s Pallavi Patel and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) Legislative Party leader Rajpal Baliyan were invited to the review meeting. SP alliance has won 125 seats in the recently concluded UP polls. 

    While SP bagged 111 seats, smaller allies including RLD got eight seats and SBSP six seats. While Apna Dal (K) could not win any seat on its ticket, none of the Mahan Dal candidate could make it to the Assembly.

    When Akhilesh Yadav was chairing the meeting with allies at SP headquarters in Lucknow, his uncle Shivpal Yadav was in Etawah busy attending a religious function. 

    Shivpal reached Etawah back on Tuesday after meeting elder brother and SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav in Delhi.

    Sulking Shivpal, taking the vow to open his mouth at an appropriate time, had proceeded to Etawah after he was not invited to SP legislative party meeting in which Akhilesh was elected SPLP leader on Saturday. 

    He had openly expressed his discontent over not being invited to SPLP meeting.

    However, after Shivpal’s outburst, SP had rushed to issue the clarification saying that none of the allies were called to the meeting and Shivpal too fell in the category of allies. Whereas Shivpal contended that he was an SP MLA who contested and won the Jaswantnagar seat on SP symbol so he should have been invited to the SP legislative party meeting.

    In fact, Shivpal has been sulking since his party was not spared even a single seat to contest in the recently concluded elections. 

    Even Shivpal was made to contest on SP symbol from his traditional Jaswantnagar seat which he won by over 90,000 votes. 

    During the elections, Shivpal failed to hide his discontent when he had claimed that he agreed to contest on SP symbols sacrificing his own party following Mulayam Singh Yadav’s instructions.

    It may be recalled that Akhilesh had reached out to Shivpal ahead of Assembly elections offering him to contest the polls on SP symbol from Jaswantnagar.

  • SP alliance lost Uttar Pradesh polls because of dishonesty and cunningness of BJP: Shivpal Singh Yadav

    By PTI

    ETAWAH: Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohiya) leader Shivpal Singh Yadav on Friday claimed that the Samajwadi Party-led alliance lost the recent Uttar Pradesh assembly elections because of “dishonesty and cunningness” of the BJP.

    He said the alliance has the backing of the people and it will face the challenges firmly.

    “Our (SP alliance) seats and vote percentage have increased in the elections. The people of the state did not defeat the SP. It was because of BJP’s dishonesty and cunningness that we lost,” Yadav, who got elected from his traditional Jaswant Nagar seat, told newspersons here.

    Some ministers in the BJP-led central government as well as many officers of the state government are involved in “this design of the BJP”, he alleged.

    The people of the state are with us, so we are not afraid.

    We will face the challenges and problems firmly and will continue to work to provide justice to people, Shivpal Yadav, who is the uncle of Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav asserted.

    Shivpal Yadav had got into a tussle with Akhilesh Yadav and formed the PSP before the assembly polls in 2017 but contested the 2022 elections in alliance with the SP.

  • UP polls: Shivpal Yadav says forming alliance with SP is PSPL’s priority, asks for 100 seats

    By PTI

    ETAWAH: Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) chief Shivpal Yadav on Monday said that his party’s priority is to form an alliance with the Samajwadi Party for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and that it should be allotted 100 seats.

    Referring to reports about a possible reunion between Shivpal Yadav and his estranged nephew and SP president Akhilesh Yadav on party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav’s 82nd birthday on Monday, the PSPL chief said that the people of Uttar Pradesh had hopes from today but the result was “shunya” (zero).

    Addressing a gathering at a ‘dangal’ (wrestling match) organised here on the occasion of his elder brother’s birthday, Shivpal Yadav said that in case the SP does not make a decision on the alliance within a week, the PSPL will hold a meeting in Lucknow to decide the future course of action.

    There was a falling out between Shivpal Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav in 2017.

    Allegedly upset over his diminishing stature in the SP, Shivpal Yadav broke away and floated the PSPL in 2018.

    The souring of their relationship was exacerbated with Akhilesh Yadav taking over the reins of the SP in 2017.

    “In 2022, we have to come to power. The entire state wants both parties (PSPL and SP) to contest the elections together. The people of the state had hopes from this day (Mulayam Singh’s birthday) but the result was ‘shunya’ (zero). Now again fake news will be run,” Shivpal Yadav said.

    Earlier this month, Akhilesh Yadav had said that he would be working to join hands with Shivpal Yadav on Mulayam Singh’s birthday.

    He had also said that he would give all respect to his uncle and the SP would enter into an alliance with the PSLP for the assembly elections.

    However, neither Akhilesh Yadav nor Mulayam Singh said anything to this effect during the birthday celebrations of the SP patriarch at the party headquarters in Lucknow on Monday.

    “We want unity as it has power. Our priority is to form an alliance with the SP. There is little time (left for the elections). Whatever decision has to be taken should be taken soon. I am saying for the past two years that elections should be contested unitedly,” Shivpal Yadav said.

    “I have accepted all conditions. He (Akhilesh) should become the chief minister,” he said.

    PSLP leaders who are in a position to win should be given tickets.

    The SP chief can get a survey done and decide, he added.

    “Give me 100 seats and we will contest (elections) together,” the PSPL leader said.

    “If a decision is not made (soon by the SP), the PSPL will organise a big conference in Lucknow after a week and take suggestions (from partymen) and a decision will be taken by the party’s parliamentary board,” he said.

    The elections for the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly will be held early next year.

    Shivpal Yadav also claimed that had he wanted, he could have become the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2003 but he let go of the position for Mulayam Singh despite the fact that “our own party and other leaders wanted to see me as chief minister”.

    To celebrate Mulayam Singh’s birthday, Shivpal Yadav cut a large cake with his son Aditya Yadav and party workers at a stadium here and offered it to his brother’s photograph.

    In a tweet in Hindi, Shivpal Yadav described Mulayam Singh as a source of inspiration and the “flag-bearer of social justice” and wished him a long and healthy life.