After losing the crucial political battle for wresting control of the party from his nephew Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav exhorted party MlAs to defy the whip and vote for Ramnath Kovind, the NDA’s candidate for the Presidential elections.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has pledged his party’s support to former lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, who is the joint candidate of 17 Opposition parties. On the other hand, Akhilesh’ father Mulayam Singh has struck a discordant chord praising Ramnath Kovind, pledging his support to him.
Mulayam also attended the dinner hosted by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at his official residence in the honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in lucknow on June 20.
Samajwadi Chintan Sabha, an outfit floated by Shivpal Yadav and managed by his close lieutenant Deepak Mishra, said that all MPs and MlAs from UP cutting across party divide, should vote for Ramnath Kovind in the Presidential elections.
“It’s for the first time since independence that a UP native in Ramnath Kovind is in the fray for the election of President of India. It’s not only a matter of pride for the people of the state, but also a lifetime opportunity for UP legislators to vote for the son of the soil as the next President of India. Kovind’s election as President of India will immensely add to the profile of the state so all MPs and MlAs from UP should support the NDA candidate,’’ said Mishra.
“Samajwadi Chintan Sabha is of the firm opinion that UP legislators should not let go the opportunity and ensure that Kovind gets most votes from UP. Kovind may have close affiliation with the RSS, but he is a seasoned politician and a distinguished person,‘’ argued Mishra.
Rs Rs Shivpal Yadav would soon meet all the MlAs known to him to seek their support for Kovind. Samajwadi Chintan Sabha would also run a campaign for mobalising support for the NDA candidate,’’said Mishra, the former spokesman of Samajwadi Party.
On Monday, Mishra said in lucknow, “All parties including Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party should vote for the NDA candidate Ramnath Kovind for the sake of the people of the state. All MlAs with Socialist leaning would defy party whip and vote for Kovind.’’