LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav on Wednesday said he would proceed on a Samajik Parivartan Yatra (movement for social transformation) from October 12, starting from Mathura, as a part of his election campaign.
The announcement is being seen as an ultimatum to Akhilesh to formally decide over alliance with Shivpal’s Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party – Lohia (PSP-L) for the 2022 assembly polls.
Hours after making the statement, Shivpal met AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, his ally Om Prakash Rajbhar and Azad Samaj Party chief Chandrashekhar Azad at his residence in the evening. The meeting lasted around an hour during which the leaders discussed the present political scenario of the state over veg cutlets and ‘dahi vade’.
Though none of leaders shared details of what was discussed between them, sources privy to the deliberations said they asked Shivpal to join them as a constituent of Bhagidari Sankalp Morcha. Sources said Shivpal has assured them that he will take a final call before he embarks on the Yatra.
Shivpal has repeatedly made public his inclination to enter into an alliance with the SP ahead of polls. He even went on record to state that he tried speaking to Akhilesh on phone, but the latter avoided taking his calls. Akhilesh, too, had said he would enter into an alliance with Shivpal’s PSP-L. “I will wait for some more time. Then I will have to look for other options. How long am I supposed to wait,” he said speaking at an event held in Lucknow.
