Sambhal and Ferozabad Lok Sabha constituencies are set to be the next battlegrounds of Samajwadi Party’s first family in the 2019 parliamentary elections.
The fledgling Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) (PSPL) floated by Shivpal Singh Yadav, uncle of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, is determined to give a tough fight to SP candidates on both seats.
SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav is likely to contest from Sambhal while his son Akshay Yadav is the sitting Member of Parliament from Ferozabad.
Sources in the PSPL said that party chief Shivpal Yadav was planning to contest Lok Sabha election from Ferozabad and would not mind challenging his nephew and sitting SP MP Akshay Yadav.
The sources claim that Shivpal believes that it was Ram Gopal who fuelled the family feud two years ago and “manipulated” Akhilesh Yadav against him.
In fact, it was Ram Gopal, who during the crucial family meeting at Saifai in March, 2012, lent his support to Akhilesh as the most deserving chief ministerial candidate, a proposal which was vehemently opposed by Shivpal.
Ferozabad has been a SP bastion since 1999, except in the 2009 bypoll, when Raj Babbar of Congress defeated Akhilesh’s wife Dimple Yadav. The constituency has over 16 lakh voters of which 3.75 lakh are Yadavs and 2.25 lakh are Muslims which form the vote base of Samajwadi Party.
In October, Shivpal Yadav had held a roadshow in Ferozabad that drew massive response from the people. The local SP MLA, Hari Om Yadav, had also joined Shivpal’s roadshow.
“Almost the entire organisation of Samajwadi Party has been built by Shivpal Yadav. After Dimple Yadav lost the 2009 by-election, Akhilesh virtually abandoned the local party office-bearers, holding them responsible for his wife’s defeat. These leaders are now inching closer to Shivpal,” said a PSPL office-bearer.
Shivpal Yadav has already made it clear that the PSPL will contest against all family members of the Yadav clan barring Mulayam Singh. Akshay Yadav will hence find it difficult to change his seat as it will send wrong signals.
Meanwhile, Shivpal’s son Aditya Yadav is said to be preparing to challenge Akhilesh Yadav from Kannauj.
“I will contest from wherever my party asks me to. As for Kannauj, I am ready to contest election against Akhilesh or Dimple Yadav and ensure their defeat. The Samajwadi Party has strayed from its ideology,” said Aditya, who will be making his political debut in the Lok Sabha election.
Though he remained by his father’s side throughout the family strife, Aditya never issued any statement against any family member.
