In the by-elections being held for nine UP Assembly seats, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken charge of the campaign on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while on behalf of the opposition Samajwadi Party (SP), party chief Akhilesh Yadav is leading. In this by-election battle between CM Yogi and Akhilesh, there is also talk of Shivpal Yadav. What is the role of Shivpal Yadav, who once led the SP, from ticket distribution to election campaigning, in these by-elections? This issue is also being debated.
These types of debates are not unnecessary either. In fact, the SP had released the list of 19 star activists for the by-elections. Shivpal’s name was at number six on this list. SP supporters had hoped it would be only nine seats. In such a situation, Shivpal will hold rallies in all seats. The campaign for the by-elections is now in the final phase. Now there are only three days left for the election campaign. Shivpal has even held massive rallies in some seats, but his programs could not be held in all seats. In such a situation, questions arise: where is Shivpal?
Shivpal faces the challenge of saving Katehri’s seat.
The SP has named Shivpal Yadav in charge of the Katehari assembly seat in this by-election. Talking about the electoral past of Katehari assembly seat, in the elections held from 1991 till now, the BJP won once and the SP twice. Except for three elections, on every occasion an elephant has run for this seat. BJP’s Anil Tiwari was MLA in UP elections in 1991, BSP’s Ramdev Verma in 1993, BSP’s Dharamraj Nishad was MLA for three consecutive terms from 1996 to 2007. The BSP’s victory bandwagon, which had run for four elections, he was arrested by the SP in the 2012 assembly elections.
SP’s Shankhlal Manjhi had won the UP elections in 2012, but in 2017, Lalji Verma again conceded this seat to the BSP. Before the 2022 assembly elections, Lalji Verma left the BSP and joined the SP and managed to make it to the assembly after winning the elections. The SP had given ticket to Lalji Verma from the Ambedkar Nagar seat in the Lok Sabha elections and he too won.
After being elected to the Lok Sabha, Lalji Verma resigned from his position as a member of the Legislative Assembly. In a bid to once again break the BJP-BSP’s strong hold on the Katehri seat, which fell vacant after the SP MLA became MP, Akhilesh Yadav’s party has handed over the responsibility of being in charge to a veteran leader like Shivpal Yadav.
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Shivpal Yadav, apart from trying to maintain the atmosphere in favor of the SP candidate through aggressive rallies in Katehri, is also keeping an eye on the preparations at the booth level through constant communication with leaders and workers. Katehari is a seat where even a small overflow of the vote bank can ruin the electoral maths and the BJP has appointed its former state president Swatantra Dev Singh in charge of this seat.
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CM Yogi has also linked Katehri with his prestige in the Milkipur assembly seat in Ayodhya. In such a situation, instead of taking any kind of risk, SP sent an experienced leader of the organization like Shivpal as the person in charge. Instead of SP vs BJP, the Katehari fight is considered to be between the former state presidents of both the parties i.e. Shivpal vs Swatantra Dev.
Efforts to keep PS leaders and workers united
Lotus has not flourished in Katehari since the UP elections of 1991. Looking at this record, the way BJP laid emphasis on this seat, the way everyone from CM Yogi to Swatantra Dev Singh became active, the SP voltage increased. The SP nominated Shobhawati Verma, from Lalji Verma’s family, as its candidate for this seat, so there was fear of rebellion among the leaders vying for the seat. Shivpal’s image is that of a leader who has a direct connection with the workers. Shivpal also camped at Katehari.
Yadav votes also responsible in Karhal
Among these nine seats, the Karhal election battle also became prestigious for the SP. SP’s Tej Pratap Yadav is in the fray for the Karhal seat, while the BJP has fielded the Mulayam family’s son-in-law Anujesh Yadav as its candidate. In this fight between family and relatives, what is at stake is Yadav’s votes. To ensure SP’s victory, Yadav is trying to save votes.
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In Karhal also the party fielded Shivpal. Shivpal Yadav not only joined Tej Pratap’s nomination but also campaigned by camping in Karhal. In the by-elections to nine assembly seats that have become a crucial issue, the SP has strategically kept Shivpal more focused on those seats where the party is trying to win at any cost.
