Much to the chagrin of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, the Uttar Pradesh Government on Friday allotted Akhilesh’s ‘estranged’ uncle Shivpal Yadav the spacious bungalow that was occupied by BSP chief Mayawati till last year. The bungalow is located on Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg in Lucknow.

The UP Government’s decision to allocate the sprawling bungalow to Shivpal has sparked criticism from the Opposition. “He is just an MLA from Jaswantnagar seat. How can he be allotted that bungalow,” said a Samajwadi Party leader.

Sources close to Shivpal said this newly allotted property could be used as the office for his recently-founded political outfit. A source claimed that preparations are in full swing at the bungalow to welcome the leader.

“I have been a five-time MLA and former Minister, owing to which I had applied for a bigger space. After which a report was sought from the Intelligence department and only after their report, this new house was allotted to me by the Government. All the rules and regulations have been followed in the allotment,” Shivpal said here on Friday. The bungalow was earlier allotted to BSP chief Mayawati and was vacated after the orders of the Supreme Court in May 2017.

It is also widely speculated in the political circles that the BJP is placating Shivpal only to widen the rift between the Yadav family ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Estate officer Yogesh Shukla was quoted in the media saying Shivpal was eligible for allotment of Category 6 bungalow and the Estate Department had received an application from him for allotment of a Government accommodation according to his seniority. “The bungalow on Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg was lying vacant and has been allotted to him,” he said.

UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has recently said that Shivpal Yadav should merge his party with the BJP.