SP's 'internal survey' predicts 170 seats, says Shivpal's son

AGRA:

Aditya Yadav

, son of Samajwadi Party’s UP state president Shivpal Yadav, on Friday virtually admitted that his party would fall short of even a simple majority in the 403-member state assembly as “apna internal surveys” had indicated that they would get only around 170 seats.

However, Aditya, when asked if he was admitting that SP would not form the next government in the state, said, "This is the minimum number of seats that we would win. But eventually the tally would be higher." He claimed that the situation continued to be in "SP’s favour" and that they would go on to form the next government.

Aditya, who is chairman of UP Cooperative Federation and was in Agra to inaugurate a handicraft showroom, underplayed differences within the Yadav clan and claimed that “Neta ji” (Mulayam Singh Yadav) had sorted out the problems. Claiming that the family was still united, he said, "The SP's youth wings are considered very strong, and there was a difference of opinion regarding them. But that has been sorted out." It was a clear reference to action taken by Shivpal Yadav against seven leaders considered to be Akhilesh's loyalists. This included 3 MLCs.

This came even as Shivpal, who chaired a crucial party meeting in Lucknow to strategise for the 2017 polls in UP, declared that Akhilesh Yadav would be the organisation's CM face. Significantly, the CM skipped Friday's session, triggering talk that the rift between the uncle and nephew was far from over.

Asked about allegations levelled by SP MLC Udayveer Singh that Mulyam Singh’s second wife was creating differences in the family, Aditya rubbished it and said, “There is nothing like that.”

Aditya also dismissed talk about Akhilesh floating a separate party and said the media was indulging in "too many speculations".

Underplaying reports about the CM not attending the party’s silver jubilee celebrations, he said, “The CM is starting his rath yatra on November 3, which would be flagged off by Neta ji. He (Akhilesh) will probably be away at the time of the event." Aditya added that Akhilesh had confirmed neither his presence nor absence from the meeting.

Indicating that Congress was nowhere in UP’s electoral battle, Aditya said SP’s fight would be with the BSP and the BJP.