New Delhi: Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday met his uncle, Pragatisheel Samajwadi party chief Shivpal Singh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh's Mainpuri during bypoll campaigning.


The SP chief touched his uncle's feet upon arrival on stage.


While Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav have been estranged at times, the latter has mellowed in recent weeks and asked his party activists to ensure the victory of "badi bahu" (elder daughter-in-law) Dimple Yadav.






Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav forged an alliance with his uncle Shivpal Yadav's Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party ahead of the crucial Uttar Pradesh election.


Shivpal Yadav broke away from the SP in 2018 and formed his own political outfit following a bitter fallout with his nephew and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.


Shivpal was allegedly upset over his diminishing stature in the party. The relationship further soured after Akhilesh Yadav took over the reins of SP in 2017.


However, after the election in which the SP alliance lost to the ruling BJP, Shivpal expressed disappointment over not being invited to the party’s legislative meeting even though he had won the election on an SP symbol.


He also meet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath just after taking oath as an MLA of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. Shivpal also attended a dinner party hosted by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for Droupadi Murmu ahead of the presidential elections.


The Samajwadi Party then wrote to the PSP chief and SBSP president OP Rajbhar saying that they were free to go anywhere they think they would get more respect.


“Shivpal Yadav ji, if you think you’ll get more respect somewhere else, you are free to leave.” the letter read.


Shivpal Yadav took to his Twitter handle and wrote in Hindi, “Although I was always free, but I sincerely thank you for giving me formal independence by issuing a letter by the Samajwadi Party. Compromising on principles and respect is unacceptable in a political journey.”


Now, uncle Shivpal has pledged his support to Dimple Yadav.


Direct Contest Between SP, BJP In Mainpuri Bypoll


Bypolls to the Mainpuri parliamentary constituency will witness a direct contest between the Samajwadi Party's Dimple Yadav and the BJP'S Raghuraj Singh Shakya after seven of 13 nomination papers were rejected during scrutiny, news agency PTI reported citing officials.


The SP is aiming for a victory in its bastion to pay tribute to party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav. 


Meanwhile, Shivpal Yadav's tilt towards the SP has come as a blow to the BJP, which fielded his protege Shakya in the hope of gaining support from the PSPL 'strongman'.


The bypoll in Mainpuri was necessitated by the death of Samajwadi Party (SP) founder Mulayam Singh Yadav. Thirteen candidates, including Kashyap and Independents, had filed their nominations from Mainpuri.


November 21 is the last date for the withdrawal of candidatures.


(With Agency Inputs)