Tej Pratap Yadav- new member of Mulayam Singh's family to join electoral politics

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav declared his grand-nephew Tej Pratap Singh Yadav as the candidate for by-polls to Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency in UP which he managed to win.Tej Pratap Yadav is more popularly known as Teju bhaiya. He was born in 1987 in Saifai. He is third generation Yadav to find a comfort spot in politics.He is the son of Ranveer Singh Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav's late nephew.Late Ranveer Singh greatly was adored by the people of Saifai. It is said that whenever Ranveer Singh visited Saifai, people in large numbers used to make a beeline to greet him. Tej Pratap Singh's father met an untimely death in 2002. His dead was mourned not just by his family but also by the people of Safai.It was Tej Pratap Singh's father who had first organizined an annual festival to celebrate the art and culture of Saifai in 1997. It was Ranveer Singh who called it “Saifai mahotsav”.Tej Pratap's father was then the Block Chief of Saifai. After his death, Mulayam Singh Yadav continued to organize the festival in the memory of his beloved nephew.He renamed it as ‘Ranveer Singh Smriti Saifai Mahotsav'.Since then, Tej Pratap was groomed to eventually take up his father's position. Tej Pratap is also the grand son of Ratan Pratap Yadav who was Mulayam Singh Yadav's elder brother. He too passed away this year at the age of 80.Even though Tej Pratap was never in the forefront of Samajwadi Party's activities, he worked tirelessly in the background. As a young boy, he even participated in Saifai bazaar's padyatra in January 2012.Tej Pratap Yadav studied in Delhi Public School (Noida). After his schooling, he went on to do his graduation from Amity University in Noida. Later, he enrolled himself into University of Leeds, UK to study MSc in Management. This 27 year old is an amateur in politics. Yet owing to his strong political background he was elected unopposed as Saifai block Chief, a post that was once held by his father.After Samajwadi Party's drastic defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha Polls, there were speculations that SP Chief may think beyond his family and select veteran SP leaders like Azam Khan or Ram Gopal Yadav. Finally, the SP supremo decided to put his money on Tej Pratap Yadav.In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Mulayam Singh Yadav contested from both Azamgarh and Mainpuri. He won both the seats. The veteran leader favored Azamgarh over Mainpuri wherein he had defeated Ramakant Yadav of the BJP by more than 60,000 votes.In a major setback, the ruling Samajwadi Party fared poorly in the 2014 Lok Sabha Polls in UP. The party won only five out of 80 Lok Sabha seats of the state. Surprisingly all the winning MPs of Samajwadi Party belong to the Mulayam Singh Yadav clan.Probably the outcome of the polls had encouraged Mulayam Singh Yadav to close his ranks and keep the family together.This could be a major reason as to why he chose his grand nephew Tej Pratap Yadav over all other claimants. Presently four members of the Yadav family represent the Samajwadi party in the Parliament. Mulayam Singh himself, his daughter-in-law Dimple, his nephews – Akshay and Dharmendra Yadav.Now if Tej Pratap does win the elections, he will be the fifth member.Tej Pratap Yadav was first introduced to the public in the Safai Mahotsav in 2013. Mulayam Singh himself had formally introduced him. Prior to this he had been involved in Samajwadi Party's campaigns in Mainpuri and Etawah.He had contributed tirelessly toward his Uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav's victory from Jaswantnagar assembly constituency in 2007. Shivpal Singh Yadav served as the Leader of Opposition in UP assembly from 2007-2009. In the 2014 Lok Sabha Eelctions, Mulayam Singh Yadav decided to contest from Azamgarh along with Mainpuri. Rumor had it that he was doing so to counter Modi effect in east UP. But this decision was taken to prepare ground for Teju bhaiya.Mulayam had anticipated victory from both the constituencies. He had already decided to relinquish Mainpuri seat and to retain Azamgarh just after the elections. Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency is considered a safe seat for the party.So introducing a Yadav entrant in the by-polls could be wise. In the meantime, Tej Pratap Yadav represented Mulayam in Mainpuri and campaigned extensively for him. So Tej Pratap's entry into politics was well planned by the SP supremo.Well before his candidature became official, clamor for declaring him the party candidate grew louder at the Safai block level meetings. Apparently Tej Pratap Yadav is quite popular in the block and the party members are all in favor of him.Tej Pratap's father left behind an imprint that cannot be easily erased.His charm even compelled some BJP workers to join SP. His people lovingly called him ‘daddu'. Mainpuri sees the same spirit in Teju Bhaiya.Tej Pratap Yadav has similar personality traits as his father. Tej Pratap is down to earth and polite. Whenever he sees elderly people he seeks their blessings regardless of who they are.He wears the same kind of khadi kurta that Ranveer Yadav used to wear. For the older people of Mainpuri, when Tej Pratap Yadav stands up to speak, it's almost like they have got their ‘Daddu' back.While BJP is keeping an eagle's watch on all the seats of Uttar Pradesh, communal riots, use of unfavored language, crime and increasing number of rape cases is deteriorating SP's image.Mainpuri may be a safe seat for the Yadav clan but convincing voters this time is going to require much more effort. Teju bhaiya so far has a clean image.He is well educated and knows what to speak in public and what not. His impeccable image and the love and respect that people have for his father may do the magic for him in the by-poll.