NEW DELHI, 21 September 2004 — Relationship seems to have played a key role in the selection of candidates by almost all political parties for the forthcoming by-elections to two parliamentary and 12 state assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh.
The parties, instead of preferring old timers and loyal party workers, have opted for the wives, sons, nephews and brothers of their leaders.
The ruling Samajwadi Party is fielding its president and Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav’s nephew Dharmendra Yadav in Mainpuri parliamentary constituency.
The seat had fallen vacant after the resignation of Mulayam who preferred to remain in the state politics, given the equations at the center where his party was denied entry in the Congress party-led ruling coalition.
Dharmendra would be the fifth member of the Mulayam family to enter active politics. The chief minister’s son Akhilesh Yadav is a member of Parliament (MP) from Kannauj, his brother Shivpal Singh Yadav a minister in the state Cabinet and brother Ram Gopal Yadav an MP from Sambhal.
Senior SP leader and party MP from Allahabad Reoti Raman Singh’s son Ujjwal Raman Singh has been fielded from Karchana assembly constituency, a seat vacated by Reoti Raman after his election to Parliament.
Similarly, from Allahabad west assembly seat, Samajwadi Party MP from Phulpur Atique Ahmed’s brother Ashraf Azeem has been fielded by the party.
Reacting on the move, a senior SP leader said that Mulayam is ignoring loyal party workers who are devoted to the party’s welfare. It will send a wrong signal in the party circle, he added.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission would review the poll arrangements for the coming by-elections for one parliamentary and 12 assembly constituencies in the state, EC sources yesterday.
Pappu Yadav Quits LJP, Likely to Contest From Madhepura
Meanwhile, in a major set back to the Lok Janshakti Party of Ram Vilas Paswan, its Secretary General Pappu Yadav yesterday resigned from the party and joined the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) of Lalu Prasad Yadav.
The former, LJP leader is likely to contest the parliamentary by-election from Madhepura on RJD ticket. By-election for the seat has been necessitated as Lalu, who won the seat defeating his JD-U rival Sharad Yadav, vacated it to retain Chapra seat.
