Why is ‘Uncle’ Shivpal Reaching Out to Akhilesh Yadav?

‘Uncle’ Shivpal has shown active interest in making his nephew Akhilesh Yadav the next chief minister of UP.

‘Uncle’ Shivpal Yadav has now shown active interest in making his nephew and Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav the next chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

Video Editor: Sandeep Suman

Maharashtra’s politics might be undergoing a complicated phase but Uttar Pradesh is anticipating a political ‘patch up.’ ‘Uncle’ Shivpal Yadav has now shown active interest in making his nephew and Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav the next chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Shivpal, who had quit Samajwadi Party to form Pragatishil Samajwadi Party, has now said that he would like to see his nephew become the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing a press conference in Etawah, Shivpal said that he will give preference to Samajwadi Party when it comes to coalition.

What’s Behind Shivpal’s ‘Change of Heart’?

During 2019 Lok Sabha elections, both SP and PSP were levelling allegations on one another. SP claimed that Shivpal’s candidates are ‘Team B’ of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). On the other hand, Shivpal kept saying Akhilesh Yadav had betrayed him.

Now, it seems that both SP and PSP have realised that it might hurt their chances if they contest separately in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. However, Shivpal has made clear that he is not in the mood for a merger; he is constantly hinting at an alliance.

Speaking to The Quint, senior journalist Anurag Tiwari said:

“To remain relevant, Shivpal might agree for an alliance. But he will never agree for a merger. Especially given the kind of situation that he had to undergo both personally and politically. He would like to avoid those situations. Hence, he will try to maintain himself as a separate entity while being in an alliance with Akhilesh. Because if Shivpal goes back and a similar situation arises, then it might be a very embarrassing situation for him.”

Will this alliance come into being? The question may be answered on 22 November –on the occasion of the birthday of Samajwadi Party Convener and former Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. Shivpal’s party is planing to have a grand celebration to mark the same.

Shivpal has invited all members of the Yadav family. It is possible that on the day, the crinkles in their relationship be ironed out and a new roadmap for Uttar Pradesh elections be made.