Naresh Uttam, MlC and the former Minister is the new State president of the Samajwadi Party. He took over the new job on Sunday soon after Shivpal Yadav was sacked by the delegates in the emergency national convention of the party held here on January 1. The new state SP president expressed his allegiance to the party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav saying he owes his existence in politics to him.
Dharmendra Yadav, Badaun MP and cousin of the chief minister Akhilesh Yadav was widely expected to be selected for the job. Chief Minister however selected Naresh Uttam, a OBCs leader from the dominant Kurmi caste from Fatehpur district.
SP sources said Akhilesh Yadav has appointed Naresh Uttam to escape the ac accusation that he is promoting the family. CM also wanted to give a signal to the first family of the party that he would no longer follow the policy of his father of promoting the Sefai family in politics.