Mulayam set to be new CM

In third position,the BJP managed to win just 47 seats,a new low since 1991 — the last time it formed a government in the state.

The Congress-RLD alliance could not even touch 40 seats,despite extensive campaigning by party general secretary Rahul Gandhi. It won 36 seats,and was leading in one.

Among the others,15 independents and candidates of smaller parties like the Peace Party,Apna Dal and Jan Kranti Party (Rashtriya) of former BJP chief minister Kalyan Singh were elected.

Senior SP leaders decided in the afternoon that Mulayam would be the chief minister,settling the debate raging over the last few days. A section of the party had rooted for his son,Akhilesh,who had led the party’s campaign from the front and is credited with the SP’s success.

While Mulayam did not speak to the waiting mediapersons,Akhilesh announced that “Netaji” would be the chief minister — which will be his fourth term as CM.

Among the prominent SP leaders who won were Mulayam’s younger brother Shivpal Singh Yadav (Jaswantnagar),party general secretary Azam Khan (Rampur),former Speaker Mata Prasad Pandey (Itwa). However,the party’s chief whip in the assembly Ambika Choudhary lost in Phephna.

Among the prominent BSP losers were Urban Development Minister Nakul Dubey (Bakshi Ka Talab),Irrigation Minister Jaiveer Singh (Karhal) and Homoeopathy Minister Nan Gopal Nandi (Allahabad South). While State BSP president Swami Prasad Maurya won in Padrauna,Mayawati,who is a member of the Legislative Council,did not contest.

In the BJP,former MP chief minister Uma Bharti won in Charkhari,but state party president Surya Pratap Shahi lost in Pathardeva and former speaker Kesri Nath Tripathi in Allahabad South.

In the Congress,state president Rita Bahuguna Joshi won in Lucknow cantonment,while CLP leader Pramod Tiwari retained Rampur Khas. However,Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid’s wife Louise Khurshid lost in Farrukhabad and party MLA Ameeta Sinh lost in Amethi.

Samajwadi Parivar

Mulayam Singh Yadav,72

Was in student politics before being elected to UP Assembly in 1967. Was Chief Minister of UP in 1989,1993 and 2003; was Union defence minister in the United Front government in 1996. Is reportedly inspired by Ram Manohar Lohia,Chaudhary Charan Singh and Ram Sewak Yadav.

Akhilesh Yadav,38

Mulayam’s son from his first wife,the late Malti Devi,Akhilesh first won the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat in the 2000 bypolls. A B.Tech. from Mysore University,with an MBA from Australia,he emerged as the SP’s new face in the run-up to the Assembly polls.

Dimple Yadav,35

Daughter of a former army officer and a Rajput from Uttarakhand,Akhilesh’s wife Dimple Yadav lost the 2009 Lok Sabha elections from Ferozabad to the Congress (Raj Babbar). Her defeat reportedly marked the beginning of the rift between Mulayam and Amar Singh.

Ram Gopal Yadav,66

Cousin of Mulayam,he is the SP general secretary and is considered part of the party’s think tank. When Mulayam became CM in 1989,Ram Gopal Yadav was elected zila parishad chairman. He was sent to the Rajya Sabha in 1992.

Shivpal Yadav,57

Mulayam’s younger brother was fielded from the Jaswant Nagar Assembly seat,a family stronghold,in 1996. The Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing Assembly,he is reportedly not happy with the prominence given to Akhilesh Yadav.

Aditya Yadav aka Ankur Yadav,24

The elder son of Shivpal Yadav,he lost the zilla panchayat from Jaswant Nagar block to a candidate supported by the BSP. A B.Tech. graduate,Aditya was looking after his father’s constituency.

Dharmendra Yadav,33

Son of Mulayam’s younger brother Abhay Ram,Dharmendra was elected to the Lok Sabha from Mainpuri constituency in a bypoll in 2004. He was re-elected from Badayun in the 2009 polls. His elder brother,Anurag,has left his job with Indian Oil to look after the family business.

Tej Pratap Yadav,22

The newest entrant from the family into politics is the grandson of Mulayam’s elder brother Rattan Singh,in whose memory Saifai Mahotsava is celebrated every year. Tej Pratap was elected block pramukh of Saifai. He has reportedly done his MBA from London.

Anshul Yadav,27

Son of Mulayam’s younger brother Rajpal Yadav who has taken VRS from the Food Corporation of India,Anshul has done his MBA from Amity University,Noida,and was managing the party’s affairs in Etawah during the run-up to these Assembly elections.

Premlata Yadav,55

Wife of Mulayam’s younger brother,Rajpal,she won the Etawah zilla panchayat seat in 2005,after it was reserved for women. She was later elected zilla panchayat head for the second consecutive term.