With Akhilesh and Ram Gopal Yadav by his side SP patriarch files nomination for Mainpuri

AGRA: With his son, Akhilesh, and brother, Ram Gopal Yadav, by his side, Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav(MSY) on Monday filed his nomination papers for Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency. This will be his fifth election from this constituency.


Though MSY did not address any public rally, as was announced earlier, he told media that SP will win the majority of the seats in the state. He however was mum on the prospects of SP’s ally, BSP. Responding to another question MSY said the PM candidate of the opposition will be decided after the results of the Lok Sabha elections are announced.

However, Akhilesh Yadav, did address a public rally and announced that Netaji would participate in the massive rally planned for April 19 along with BSP supremo, Mayawati. Interestingly while Akhilesh was speaking slogans of "Netaji ko le kar aao" were raised by the public.

Appealing for votes for the alliance, Akhilesh Yadav, said that Netaji had sent the message for all workers to work hard to sweep the BJP out of power. He said the SP-BSP- RLD (red; blue and green) was the colour of the season and the alliance will sweep the polls in UP.

While urging the people for ensuring a historic win for MSY, Akhilesh said that “netaji” had chosen to contest from this constituency, as he considers this as his own. He said people were wanting him to contest from Azamgarh but he chose Manipuri over it.

It may be recalled that in the last elections MSY had contested from both Azamgarh and Mainpuri but had chosen to retain the former. Akhilesh’s attempts to remind the people of MSY’s ties with Mainpuri was seen as an attempt to pacify those voters who had perhaps felt let down after Netaji chose to retain Azamgarh as his constituency in the last polls. “This election is not only of about SP but about MSY too. Everyone is excited that Netaji is contesting from Mainpuri constituency,” said Akhilesh.

As expected, while a large number of SP leaders were present for MSY’s nomination, his estranged brother, Shivpal Yadav, who formed his own political party Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party Lohia (PSPL), was conspicuous by his absence.