Samajwadi Party (SP) has intensified preparations for the by-elections for 10 assembly seats of UP. SP has announced in-charges for six out of 10 seats. Shivpal Yadav’s name is also in this list of in-charges. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has handed over the responsibility of Katehari seat of Ambedkar Nagar district to uncle Shivpal. In such a situation, the question is whether these by-elections will prove to be able to restore status for Shivpal, who is searching for his lost place since his return to SP?
These questions are also being raised because Shivpal, who was expelled from SP after the clash with Akhilesh Yadav in 2017, had formed his own party. Shivpal, who was expelled from the party just before the 2017 UP elections, returned to SP before the 2022 elections but could not get that place. Shivpal was once considered the most powerful leader in SP after Mulayam. After being elected MP from Kannauj in the Lok Sabha elections, when Akhilesh resigned from the membership of the Assembly and it came to electing the new leader of opposition, Shivpal was considered a strong contender.
Akhilesh gave preference to Mata Prasad Pandey over Shivpal and he was made the new leader of opposition. CM Yogi congratulated the new leader of opposition in the UP Assembly and took a dig at Shivpal by saying that you have betrayed your uncle. Uncle makes mistakes every time. Shivpal had hit back at Yogi’s taunt and said that earlier we used to sit at the back, now the leaders have come next to the opposition. We have not eaten Gacha. Now that SP has made Shivpal in-charge of Katehari by-election, there is a chance for Shivpal to ensure his place in the frontline of the party.
Why is by-election a chance to return status?
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath himself has taken the responsibility of Katehari on behalf of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the responsibility of which has been handed over to Shivpal by SP. Shivpal’s organizational ability and strategic skills will be tested in front of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the biggest face of BJP in UP. Shivpal had also taken charge of SP’s election campaign in the by-election of Ghosi seat of Mau, which was vacant due to the resignation of Dara Singh Chauhan, and was successful in running the cycle there.
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In the Ghosi by-election, the then state president Bhupendra Chaudhary along with many ministers of the Yogi cabinet had campaigned by camping on behalf of BJP. A big difference between the by-elections of Ghosi and Katehari is not only the responsibility of CM Yogi, it is also that at that time even parties like BSP and Congress had not given candidates and there was a direct contest between BJP and SP.
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This time CM Yogi has linked this seat to his prestige, while Mayawati led Bahujan Samaj Party has also announced to field candidates. In such a situation, Shivpal will also have the challenge of stopping the scattering of anti-BJP or anti-government votes and if SP wins the Katehari seat, then it will be a big achievement for SP as well as for him, but it will be a big blow for BJP. . This is also being seen as an opportunity for Shivpal to restore his status in the party as it was before the internal strife of 2017.
The results of Katehari will determine the stature of Shivpal!
Looking at the election history of Katehri seat, as favorable as victory seems for SP, the present situation is equally difficult. The CM linking this seat to his prestige shows how difficult the fight is. Shivpal’s image is that of a skilled organizer and a leader adept in electoral skills. In a way, Akhilesh has given an opportunity to prove himself by handing over the responsibility of one of the two toughest seats of the by-election. The by-election results of this seat may prove to determine Shivpal’s stature in SP.
For whom has the political land of Katehri been fertile?
The political land of Katehri has been fertile for parties like SP-BSP. Till now, lotus has bloomed only once on this seat when BJP’s Anil Kumar Tiwari had won from this seat in the Ram wave of 1991. In the seven elections held since 1991, BSP has won five times and SP twice. In 1993, Ramdev Verma had won on BSP ticket. BSP’s Dharamraj Nishad won in 1996, 2002 and 2007.
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In 2012, SP’s Shankhlal Manjhi stopped BSP’s victory chariot, but in 2017, Lalji Verma again put this seat in BSP’s kitty. In 2022, Lalji Verma contested on SP ticket and retained the seat. Lalji Verma has now reached Parliament. After the election to the Lok Sabha, he had resigned from the membership of the Legislative Assembly, due to which by-elections are being held on the vacant seat.