Despite conflicting signals emanating from Samajwadi party speculations are rife over possibility of Samajwadi Party national President contesting election from Azamgarh besides Mainpuri from where he is sitting MP.
Senior party leaders Shivpal Singh Yadav did not rule out this possibility but said there is no plan yet to field Mulayam Singh Yadav from Azamgarh. “This matter is not discussed in that way,” he told reporters here on Wednesday.
But party’s national general secretary Naresh Agarwal told The Pioneer that Yadav might contest from Azamgarh. “There is a demand from the party workers to field Netaji from Azamgarh and his contesting election from there cannot be ruled out,” he said.
Azamgarh, a crucial district in eastern Uttar Pradesh has seen emergence of Muslim politics post Batla shoot-out in New Delhi. The Muslims of that area, lead by local clerics, formed Rashtriya Ulema Council that contested last 2012 assembly election. With Samajwadi Party losing favour with Muslims post-Muzaffarnagar riots it is believed that if Mulayam contests from Azamgarh he would be able to win the confidence of minority community back.
Besides, a few months back local leaders of Azamgarh held a demonstration outside party office in lucknow demanding that Prateek Yadav, the youngest son of Mulayam, should contest the election. Earlier the party had fielded Hawaldar Singh Yadav but later he was replaced by Panchayati Raj minister Balram Singh Yadav.
As Azamgarh has large section of Yadav it is safe seat for Mulayam Singh. In political circles it is also believed that if Modi contests from Varanasi Mulayam should fight election from Azamgarh. This will help in nullifying the Modi-effect in eastern UP.
Shivpal said: “There is no proposal as yet. We will let you know if it comes for discussion.”About the political scenario in Uttar Pradesh Yadav said that no Modi wave was sweeping in the state. “The BJP has been exposed. The party leaders are themselves looking for safe seat. If there is a Modi wave why these leaders are looking for safe seat,” he asked. Meanwhile, a former BSP legislature Shyam Kishore Yadav joined Samajwadi Party in presence of Shivpal Singh and party’s spokesman Rajendra Chaudhry.