MSY, Akhilesh both field own candidates for four seats in pocket borough

AGRA: As the threat of a split in the Samajwadi Party looms large, Mainpuri, the pocket borough of the Yadavs, is perhaps the worst affected by infighting, with both Mulayam and Akhilesh factions announcing separate candidates for all the four constituencies falling in the district.

According to the district president of the SP, Manikchand Yadav, in his list, Akhilesh retained the sitting MLAs of Mainpuri-Sadar (Raj Kumar Yadav), Bhongaon (Alok K Shakya) and Kishni (Brajesh Katheriya), and dropped Karhal legislator Sobaran Singh, replacing him with his cousin, Anshul Yadav, who is also the zila panchayat chairman of Etawah.

Sobaran Singh, however, was the only sitting legislator to find a place in Mulayam's list. In Bhongaon, Shiv Baksha Shakya was announced as candidate, while Sandhya Katheria was named for Kishni and Manikchand Yadav for Mainpuri-Sadar. Manikchand has since dropped out of the race and was replaced by Sujan Singh Yadav on Wednesday . Manikchand opted out of the race saying he just wanted to campaign for Shivpal Yadav and would not contest.

According to insiders, though all the eight candidates are keeping a brave face and are preparing for the polls, no one is sure about their fate. “If the SP splits and these candidates don't switch loyalties at the last moment, then all eight might contest, but if the father and son re-unite, four would find themselves sitting at home,“ said a leader.

A district leader told TOI that, like the candidates, even the cadre are unsure about the fate of the party. Though the majority are against a split, many feel that it may be imminent now and the party may have to suffer on account of the division of votes.