Mulayam to discard Lok Sabha seat

Samajwadi Party president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday said he would be resigning from his Lok Sabha seat to remain as the chief minister of the state.

He had been elected from the Mainpuri seat with a thumping majority of about 300,000 votes in the recently held parliament elections. He represents Gunnaur in the state assembly.

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In view of the Congress-led coalition getting a simple majority with the help of its pre-poll allies, Yadav could not play kingmaker at the Centre. The Congress has, so far, not shown any inclination to include him in the government at the Centre though the SP has extended support to the anti-NDA coalition.

"Under the present circumstances, I am resigning from the Lok Sabha and would continue to serve the state as chief minister," Yadav told a public meeting at Kuravali in Mainpuri, his Lok Sabha constituency.

Yadav held five public meetings in Mainpuri to assess the mood of his supporters and assess their views on this count. He is taking the step in view of the current political situation and for the all-round development and progress of the state.

Yadav also apprised them that during his earlier meetings at Jasrana and Kishanganj (also in Mainpuri constituency), the people had asked him to continue to lead the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Yadav promised to make concerted efforts for the development of the state and pointed out that only the Samajwadi Party is in a position to defeat the communal forces in the state.