In a surprise move, the Samajwadi Party has named Shvipal Yadav, the estranged uncle of Akhilesh Yadav, as a star campaigner for the bypoll to Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat. It’s for the first time in over five years that Shivpal has been included in the list of star campaigners by the Samajwadi party for any election.
Shivpal’s name was missing from the list of star campaigners when the bypolls to Azamgarh and Rampur Lok Sabha seats were held in June last and later the bypoll to Gola Gokrannath assembly seat earlier this month. The SP failed to retain the two Lok Sabha seats and also lost in Gola.
The move is seen as a desperate attempt of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav to send a message to the electorate that the first family is united.
Akhilesh, in a bid to ensure the success of Dimple, wants to leave no stone unturned. Earlier, a day after the announcement of Dimple as a candidate in Mainpuri, Akhilesh has changed the district party president.