Akhilesh Yadav meets uncle Shivpal ahead of crucial Uttar Pradesh assembly polls

akhilesh yadav meets shivpal, uttar pradesh polls 2022, up elections 2022 — Image Source : TWITTER @YADAVAKHILESH
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav meets uncle Shivpal in Lucknow

Highlights

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav met uncle Shivpal for almost 45 minutes
Shivpal Yadav has demanded at least 25-40 seats to contest in the upcoming elections.
Prospects of Shivpal's Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (L) merger with SP was also discussed

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday met Shivpal at the latter's residence. The meeting which lasted for almost 45 minutes assumes significance on the backdrop of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections which is slated early next year.

If sources are to be believed, Shivpal Yadav has demanded at least 25-40 seats to contest in the upcoming elections. Prospects of Shivpal's Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) merger with Samajwadi Party was also discussed during the 45-minute-long meeting between the two leaders. According to sources, in case of a merger, Shivpal may be accommodated in the organisation at the state level or as the national general secretary.

Akhilesh Yadav later tweeted a photo of his meeting with Shivpal. He said that they discussed the matter of alliance between the SP and Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) for the upcoming Assembly polls in the state. "The policy of taking regional parties along is continuously strengthening the SP and leading the SP and other allies to a historic victory," Akhilesh tweeted in Hindi along with a photo of his meeting with Shivpal.

Hundreds of supporters of both parties gathered outside Shivpal's residence raising slogan "Chacha-Bhatija zindabad". SP founder Mulayam SIngh Yadav was present at Shivpal's residence before Akhilesh reached there, SP sources said.

Shivpal Yadav too tweeted about the same:

There was a fallout between the two in 2017. Allegedly upset over his diminishing stature in the party, Shivpal had resigned and floated a new party all together in 2018 and called it Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia.

Years after a bitter fallout, both uncle and nephew were seen warming up to each other and also had shown willingness to fight the elections in coalition. While Akhilesh is insisting that he would give due honour to his "uncle" and his partymen, Shivpal has in the past announced he is even ready to merge his party with the SP.