LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government has downgraded the security cover of Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia (PSP-L) president Shivpal Yadav from “Z” to “Y” category, people familiar with the matter said on Monday.
The decision comes against the backdrop of Shivpal Yadav’s aggressive campaign for the December 5 Mainpuri Lok Sabha byelection in support of Samajwadi Party candidate and Akhilesh Yadav’s wife, Dimple Yadav.
The decision was conveyed by Vaibhav Krishna, superintendent of police (training and security) to Kanpur police commissioner and Etawah senior superintendent of police in a letter dated November 27.
Shivpal Yadav’s security was upgraded to “Z” category security cover after he walked out of the Samajwadi Party in 2017 due to his estranged relationship with the former chief minister and his nephew Akhilesh Yadav and founded the PSP-L.
The Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after the demise of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav on October 10 this year. Polling of votes for the Mainpuri bypoll will take place on December 5. The votes will be counted on December 8.
Shivpal and Akhilesh came together during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls in March to take on the BJP, but the relationship again soured after the elections. After the SP announced Dimple Yadav as its candidate from Mainpuri on November 10, Shivpal distanced himself from the decision. His cousin and SP national general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav later said the decision to field her was taken in due consultation with Shivpal Yadav.
{{/usCountry}}Shivpal and Akhilesh came together during the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls in March to take on the BJP, but the relationship again soured after the elections. After the SP announced Dimple Yadav as its candidate from Mainpuri on November 10, Shivpal distanced himself from the decision. His cousin and SP national general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav later said the decision to field her was taken in due consultation with Shivpal Yadav.
{{/usCountry}}The BJP has fielded Raghuraj Singh Shakya, a Shivpal confidante, who claimed to have his blessings. Shivpal wasn’t present when Dimple filed her nomination on November 14 but two days later, asked his supporters to campaign for Dimple and ensure her victory.
Shivpal Yadav’s assembly segment Jaswantnagar, from where he has been elected six times, comes under the Mainpuri Lok Sabha constituency.