SP MLAs Snub Akhilesh Yadavs Meeting Ahead of Rajya Sabha Polls

As many as eight Samajwadi Party MLAs, including chief whip Manoj Pandey, gave party chief Akhilesh Yadavs meeting a miss on the eve of the Rajya Sabha elections, raising eyebrows within the party.

In a significant development ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, eight MLAs of the Samajwadi Party (SP) failed to attend a crucial meeting called by party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday, February 26. The meeting was convened to provide instructions and guidance to the MLAs regarding the voting process for the upcoming elections.

Absence of Key MLAs Raises Eyebrows

The absence of several prominent SP MLAs, including the party's chief whip in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Manoj Pandey, and seven others, raised eyebrows within the party. The MLAs who did not attend the meeting include Mukesh Verma, Maharaji Prajapati, Pooja Pal, Rakesh Pandey, Vinod Chaturvedi, Rakesh Pratap Singh, and Abhay Singh.

SP Spokesperson Confirms Absences

Speaking to reporters, SP's national spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary acknowledged that eight MLAs indeed missed the dinner and meeting called by Akhilesh Yadav. However, he refrained from naming the absent MLAs.

Apna Dal Kamerawadi MLA's Attendance

When asked about the attendance of Apna Dal Kamerawadi leader Pallavi Patel, who is also an SP MLA, Chaudhary clarified that while she was not present at the meeting, she had a separate meeting with Akhilesh Yadav. Patel assured her support to the SP candidates in the Rajya Sabha elections, according to Chaudhary.

Uncertainty Surrounding Absent MLAs' Stance

Chaudhary emphasized that the true intentions and loyalties of the MLAs who were absent from the meeting will become evident during the voting process for the Rajya Sabha elections on Tuesday.

High-Stakes Battle for Rajya Sabha Seats

The upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh have set the stage for an intense electoral contest between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Samajwadi Party. The BJP has fielded eight candidates, while the SP has nominated three candidates for the 10 Rajya Sabha seats.

Numbers Game and Keen Contest

Based on their respective strengths in the 403-member state assembly, the BJP and the SP are poised to secure seven and three seats, respectively. However, the BJP's decision to field an eighth candidate, Sanjay Seth, has created the possibility of a close contest for one of the seats.

Political Affiliations of MLAs

The BJP and the SP are the two largest parties in the state assembly, with 252 and 108 MLAs, respectively. Other parties and alliances also hold seats, including the Congress (2), Apna Dal Sonelal (13), NISHAD Party (6), RLD (9), SBSP (6), Jansatta Dal Loktantrik (2), and the BSP (1). Four seats are currently vacant.

Prominent Candidates in the Fray

The BJP's list of candidates includes former Union minister RPN Singh, former MP Chaudhary Tejveer Singh, general secretary of the party's Uttar Pradesh unit Amarpal Maurya, former state minister Sangeeta Balwant, party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, former MLA Sadhna Singh, and former Agra mayor Naveen Jain.

The Samajwadi Party has nominated actor-MP Jaya Bachchan, retired IAS officer Alok Ranjan, and Dalit leader Ramji Lal Suman.

Electoral Threshold for Rajya Sabha Seats

To secure a seat in the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh, a candidate requires 37 first preference votes, as per an official.