Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (PSP) president Shivpal Yadav has said he is open to an alliance with the Samajwadi Party if its president, his nephew Akhilesh Yadav, reaches out. Speaking to reporters in Firozabad on Sunday, he said: “We will not be going for any kind of merger with any party.”

Talk of a reunion

Speculation about the estranged uncle and nephew coming back together grew after the two were seen together at Mulayam Singh Yadav’s residence recently. Shivpal said that while a merger was ruled out, an approach from Akhilesh for an alliance could be considered.

Shivpal, Mulayam Singh Yadav’s younger brother, set up his own party some time ago, alleging he was not given due respect in the SP. Known for his grassroots network, he put up candidates on every seat except Mainpuri in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. He lost in Firozabad himself, and the division of votes also cost his nephew Akshay Yadav, who was contesting on an SP ticket.

Within the Samajwadi Party

His remarks come as the main parties prepare for by-elections to 12 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh. Some reports said Akhilesh had sought his father’s guidance after the Lok Sabha setback. SP sources said Mulayam had asked him to bring disaffected senior leaders back, and that the party also wanted to promote a non-Yadav leader to shed its ‘Yadav-only party’ tag. Mulayam was also said to have urged his son to mend ties with Shivpal.

A senior SP leader, speaking anonymously, said both Akhilesh and Shivpal had underperformed in 2019 and that working together would serve the party and both leaders.

What happened next

In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, the BJP won 255 seats, the Samajwadi Party 111 and the BSP 1, and Yogi Adityanath was Chief Minister after the election.

See also: Samajwadi Party | Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha members

Originally published on 8 July 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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