Shivpal to take on nephew Akshay, also fields Amarmani's daughter

AGRA: The battlelines between Samajwadi Party, led by Akhilesh Yadav, and Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party Lohia (PSPL), helmed by his uncle Shivpal Yadav, were formally drawn on Tuesday, as the latter released the list of 30 candidates for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. As expected, Shivpal himself would contest against his nephew Akshay Yadav in Firozabad.

However, the list had an element of surprise as Tanushri, the daughter of former minister Amarmani Tripathi -- convicted for the killing poetess Madhumita Shukla -- has been fielded from Maharajganj in eastern UP.


Although Tanushree’s name figures in the first list of PSPL candidates, when contacted, she said she would take a couple of days to decide whether to contest or not. “I will sit with my brother, who is an MLA from Nautanwa -- which is part of Maharajganj parliamentary seat -- and decide on the matter,” she said. She further said that conviction of her parents and the ongoing case against her brother will not be a deterrent in her victory. Tanushri’s brother, Aman Mani, an independent MLA from Nautanwa, is at present on bail in connection with his involvement in the murder of his wife.

Firozabad, however, would see part II of Yadav Family war as Shivpal would try to dislodge his own nephew Akshay -- the son of his estranged cousin and SP's national general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav . Shivpal has been able to garner the support of some old SP loyalists, including the lone sitting SP MLA in the constituency, Hariom Yadav, who is also his relative. A former local MLA Mohammad Azim has also joined hands with him and these new political equations can make things difficult for Akshay, who also faces anti-incumbency due to his unimpressive run as an MP.

An analysis of the first list reveals that Shivpal Yadav has tried to maintain caste and religious balances, fielding six Muslims and equal number of Yadav and Dalit candidates. These candidates arre likely to cut into the votes of the SP-BSP combine. Most of the candidates fielded by the party are from Samajwadi party and they include former ministers, Aruna Kori (Mishrikh), Dr Omveer Singh (Muzaffarnagar) and Sevaram Kasana (Ghaziabad)

A senior leader of PSPL told TOI that 42 small parties, including Peace party, Rashtriya Krantkari Samajwadi party, Krishna Patel-led Apna Dal are in alliance with the outfit. The party will field candidates in all LS seats of Uttar Pradesh except Mainpuri from where Mulayam Singh Yadav is contesting on the SP ticket.