Congress gets support from Akhilesh Yadav’s uncle Shivpal Yadav

The announcement here has taken people by surprise as the move will affect the prospects of SP-BSP-RLD alliance – more so in caste equations.

In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought in an unprecedented unity among all castes population including the Yadavs.

But in the run up to the 2019 polls, Samajwadi Party, which holds a grip over Yadav vote share, struck an alliance with BSP and RLD and thus could claim substantial OBC and Dalit votes.

This could have had bigger influence in enhancing the prospect of Mahagatbandhan nominee Shalini Yadav.

But now the decision of Shivpal Yadav, uncle of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, will certainly create a division among Yadav voters.

Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) Varanasi unit president Ismail K Guddu announced the party “decision” to back Ajay Rai and also said that Shivpal Yadav will campaign for the Congress nominee.

The SP-BSP-RLD Mahagatbandhan has fielded Shalini Yadav, daughter-in-law of a local Congress veteran for the prestigious seat.

Shivpal Yadav’s party has presented a Vision Document for Varanasi and urged the Congress nominee to highlight the same.

Meanwhile, sources in the Congress camp say the party candidate Ajay Rai, who contested unsuccessfully against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014 also, has reached out to various socio political groups and

smaller parties to garner their support for May 19 elections.

Among others, the Congress candidate has reached out to Rashtriya Purvanchal Ekta Party, Kendriya Brahmin Samaj, Lok Manch Benaras and Manav Samaj Party.