Shivpal's list of SP candidates might cause fresh ripples in ruling party

Lucknow: The list of candidates released by SP state president Shivpal Yadav has once again brought to the fore the tug-of-war within the ruling party clan as names of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's brother and another mafia don Ateeq Ahmad might not be palatable to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

1. The list of 23 candidates clearly bears the stamp of Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and Shivpal.
2. Ansari's brother and sitting Qaumi Ekta Dal (QED) MLA Sigbatullah Ansari has been nominated from Mohammadabad in Ghazipur - a seat he presently holds.
3. QED's merger with Samajwadi Party had been openly opposed by the chief minister and the issue clearly became a flashpoint in the feud in the Yadav clan ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
4. Another controversial name in the list released yesterday is that of mafia don Ateeq Ahmad who has been fielded from Kanpur Cantt seat.
5. Ateeq, an accused in the murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal, is on Akhilesh Yadav's 'blacklist'.
6. A former MP from Phoolpur, Ateeq was also president of the Apna Dal from 1999 to 2003.
7. Shivpal said winnability and loyalty to the party have been the main criteria in selecting candidates.
8. However, analysts pointed out that in the process objections raised by Akhilesh over some of the candidates appeared to have been overruled.
9. Though the SP has changed a few candidates, the name of Aman Mani Tripathi, who was recently arrested by the CBI for the murder of his wife Sara Singh, remains on the list.
10. The chief minister reportedly "did not approve" of his candidature and it was expected that the party might replace him.

The latest ticket distribution might cause fresh ripples in the Yadav family as recently SP National General Secretary Ramgopal Yadav said he would have the "final say" in ticket distribution by virtue of the posts he held in the party and SP Parliamentary Board.