SP leader signals talks with estranged uncle

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav expressed his interest in talks with estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav before Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Lucknow:Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has now said that he is open to further discussions with estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav's Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party Lohia (PSPL) for adjustments on seats for the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Talking to reporters, Akhilesh said that the SP would not field a candidate against Shivpal and also will talk to the PSPL in case the two can form a winning combination on other seats. "We can consider adjustment on other seats in case there is a winning combination," he said.

Akhilesh said the SP would offer Shivpal a respectable position in the Cabinet if it forms the next government. This was the first time that the SP president has spoken of seat adjustments with the PSPL.

Earlier, he had stated that the SP would not field a candidate against Shivpal on the Jaswantnagar seat. Akhilesh's statement had irked Shivpal Yadav and he had described the SP's proposal as a 'joke'. "Is this how a political alliance is forged?" he had asked.

Three days ago, Shivpal went ahead and announced the names of his party candidates on three Assembly seats -- Jasrana, Shikohabad and Sirsaganj. He has named Prof. Anil Yadav as his candidate from Jasrana, Meena Rajput from Shikohabad and Hari Om Yadav from Sirsaganj.

Hari Om Yadav is the sitting SP MLA from Sirsaganj and has openly expressed his loyalty with Shivpal Yadav. Shivpal has also been in talks with Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) leader Om Prakash Rajbhar who heads a broader alliance called the Bhagidari Sankalp Morcha.

Earlier, signs of rapprochement between Akhilesh and Shivpal had emerged last year when the SP had withdrawn its petition filed before the Assembly Speaker, seeking disqualification of Shivpal as the SP MLA. Shivpal returned the gesture and called up Akhilesh to thank him for withdrawing the disqualification petition.

IANS