After Akhilesh Yadav resigned from his seat in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly following his election to the Lok Sabha from Kannauj, the competition for the position of opposition leader in the House has intensified within the Samajwadi Party. Several senior leaders have emerged as contenders for this crucial role.
Among the frontrunners vying for the post are Shivpal Singh Yadav, Mata Prasad Pandey, and Indrajit Saroj, according to sources within the party. Additionally, Ram Achal Rajbhar and Ravidas Malhotra are also considered potential candidates for the position.
Confirming the developments, Samajwadi Party chief spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary informed PTI Bhasha that Akhilesh Yadav will soon make a decision regarding the appointment of the new opposition leader. He added that discussions are ongoing within the party regarding the selection process.
Akhilesh Yadav officially resigned from his assembly seat representing Karhal on Wednesday. His resignation has triggered the need for appointing a new leader of the opposition in the state assembly.
Reflecting on the electoral landscape, the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, in alliance, secured 37 and six seats, respectively, out of Uttar Pradesh's 80 Lok Sabha seats in the recent general elections. The opposition alliance is now gearing up for the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections scheduled for 2027.
Shivpal Singh Yadav, currently serving his sixth term as an MLA from Jaswant Nagar, has significant experience, having previously served as the leader of the opposition during the BSP government from 2007 to 2012.
Mata Prasad Pandey represents the Etwa constituency in Siddharthnagar, while Indrajit Saroj holds the Majhanpur seat in Kaushambi. Ram Achal Rajbhar is the MLA from Akbarpur in Ambedkar Nagar district, and Ravidas Malhotra is a senior legislator representing Lucknow.
As the Samajwadi Party weighs its options, the selection of the opposition leader will play a crucial role in shaping the party's strategy and stance in the upcoming political landscape of Uttar Pradesh.
