The Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday turned into a battleground for a clash of the titans — albeit in a lighter vein — as chief minister Yogi Adityanath and SP leader Shivpal Yadav took digs at each other, leaving their colleagues in splits.
It was Adityanath who began the duel by mocking Shivpal Yadav for being betrayed by his nephew and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav once again on the issue of appointment of Leader of Opposition (LoP).
“I congratulate you for your selection as LoP,” the chief minister said, welcoming Mata Prasad Pandey to the House. He then added: “Yeh ek alag vishay hai ki aapne chacha ko gaccha de hi diya [Though it is a different issue that you ditched uncle). Chacha bechaara, humesha aise hi maar khata hai, unki niyati hi kuch aise hai [The poor uncle always gets ditched, such is his fate). Kyunki bhatija humesha bhaybheet rehta hai [This is because the nephew is always scared].” Adityanath’s statement was in reference to the family feud between Shivpal Yadav and Akhilesh in the past.
As the chief minister mocked him, Shivpal Yadav chose to remain calm and waited patiently for his turn to speak. “Hamein gaccha nahi mila hai [I have not been betrayed]. For three years, I was in touch with you, so you have also betrayed me. Mata Prasad Pandey is a very senior leader. We are the Samajwadi Party. Abhi Lok Sabha elections mein Samajwadi Party ne aapko gaccha diya hai [We have defeated you in the recent Lok Sabha polls]. I am saying it now that the Samajwadi Party will come to power in 2027,” he said as the assembly erupted in laughter.
He also referred to the recent controversy about the rift between Adityanath and his deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, saying: “I want to tell the chief minister that your deputy CM will cheat you again in 2027.”
Adding to his uncle’s attack, Akhilesh Yadav, hitting back at Yogi Adityanath, said: “UP CM Yogi ne Delhi ko gaccha diya hai [Yogi has fooled Delhi]. Maine dhoka nahi diya, unhone Delhi ko dhokha diya hai [I have not fooled anyone. He has hoodwinked Delhi.”
This is not the first time that the assembly has been witness to Adityanath and Shivpal Yadav’s banter. On March 2, 2023, while addressing the budget session, Adityanath lashed out at the Samajwadi Party but maintained a soft stance towards Shivpal Yadav.
The chief minister said he respected Shivpal Yadav who was treated wrongly and was forced to struggle. Highlighting the development works carried out under the BJP government, Adityanath mentioned the Bansagar irrigation project. Even before he could complete the sentence, Shivpal Yadav interrupted him and said: “Agar hataye na gaye hote toh poora kar dete [I would have completed the project had this department not been taken away from me]. Around 90 per cent of the work was completed during my regime as irrigation minister.” The statement left many, including the chief minister, smiling.
In September 2016, Akhilesh Yadav — the then chief minister — took away the public works and irrigation department from Shivpal Yadav following a power tussle between the two.
Replying to his statement, the chief minister said: “Though you were able to complete most of it, people knew that you won’t be able to finish it, so they elected us.” Adityanath went on to say that had Shivpal Yadav been in the BJP, the situation would have been different. At this, the latter stood up and said, “Jab jaago, tab savera [It’s never too late to mend your ways],” evoking more laughter from the House.
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