Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav appointed his younger brother and PWD Minister Shivpal Yadav as the incharge of the SP state unit. The elevation of Shivpal was on the cards in view of the 2017 Assembly polls. With this, Shvipal is set to have a key role in deciding candidates for the next elections.
Shivpal Yadav is already the chief spokesman of the SP state unit. The move to elevate Shivpal is seen in political circles as a message to the rank and file that the SP’s ‘first family’ is united for the next year’s battle of ballot.
Shivpal Yadav had caused a stir last week by announcing that his son Aditya would not debut in politics and continue to serve people by heading the Pradesh Cooperative Federation. Aditya was tipped to contest from Jaswant Nagar Assembly seat in Etawah, presently held by his father.
A senior party leader said: “After ‘Netaji’, Shivpal is the only leader who knows the party organisation in all 75 districts like the back of his hand. He may not possess the genius to draft bulky resolutions for the party’s national executive but his uncanny skills in brokering peace among warring factions is an asset to the party,” he added.
Samawjadi Party sources said that Shivpal had been elevated for steering the party in the crucial 2017 Assembly polls. With this, Shivpal will now devote maximum time for the organisation and prepare for the polls by meeting party leaders from districts to decide candidates.
In December 2015, Shivpal was chosen as the ‘trouble-shooter’ to handle the rebellion within the party over distribution of tickets for the election of chairman of district panchayats and later for the election of members of the legislative Council from local bodies constituency.
The SP has already has given a clear indication that the sitting MlAs are not sure to be given tickets for the 2017 polls as winnability was going to be the major yardstick for deciding candidates.