Etawah, January 27: In a major announcement, former Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Shivpal Singh Yadav announced his decision to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2019 from the Firozabad constituency of Uttar Pradesh. The incumbent candidate from the seat is Shivpal's nephew Akshay Yadav, the son of his estranged cousin Ram Gopal Yadav.

Shivpal, who had recently founded the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia (PSP-L) with the blessings of his elder brother and SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, said the next government at the Centre would not be formed without the PSP-L's support. Shivpal Yadav Questions Credibility of SP-BSP Alliance, Says 'Akhilesh Betrayed His Father & Uncle'

Shivpal claimed that his new party would send shockwaves across the political circles of UP, adding that it will emerge as a force to reckon with. The Firozabad constituency would be wrested by his party with a massive mandate, he said.

"The people of Firozabad want me to contest the Lok Sabha elections from there and so I will contest from Firozabad," Shivpal told a gathering in Etawah on Republic Day.

Targeting SP president Akhilesh Yadav, Shivpal said the former chief minister has not only betrayed him, "but his father as well".

"I only wanted respect, but I was separated (from the party) as part of a conspiracy. How can we trust a person (Akhilesh Yadav) who has deceived his father and uncle? I had to form the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia out of compulsion," he said.

Shivpal further claimed that the SP-BSP alliance, forged days ahead of the upcoming general elections, will be short-lived. He added that Mulayam was "backstabbed" by Mayawati 24 years ago, when she withdrew from the alliance and formed a government with the BJP's aid.

"A party which called Mulayam Singh Yadav a goonda and me 'durachari', forging alliance with such a party is an insult to both father and uncle," Shivpal added.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 27, 2019 03:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).