33 SP panchayat chiefs elected unopposed

Lucknow, Jan 2: Thirty-three candidates of the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) have been elected un-opposed as 'zila panchayat adhyakshs'.

Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and his brother and PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav were personally monitoring the high-stake polls.

The party had cracked whip on senior and prominent party leaders for opposing official party candidates, so much so that Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav went into a sulk after three of his close associates were expelled from the party.

The places where SP candidates won unopposed include Etah, Kasganj, Lucknow, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Kanpur rural and city, and Etawah.

SP candidates have also won unopposed in most places in Bundelkhand, including Jhansi, Hamirpur, Mahoba and Chitrakoot.

Senior Samajwadi Party leaders say Mulayam had taken it upon himself to ensure that there was consensus on party candidates at most places.

IANS