Lucknow, Dec 16: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav would seek entry to the state legislature from Gunaur Assembly constituency in Badaun district, setting to rest all speculations of the Samajwadi Party supremo opting for central politics. The assembly seat fell vacant when sitting SP MLA and Minister of State for Basic Education Ajit Kumar resigned yesterday to pave way for Mr Yadav's candidature.
Party sources said that even as an official announcement was awaited in this regard, unofficially preparations have begun to ensure a landslide victory for the wily CM from the Yadav-dominated seat.
Earlier, speculations were that Mr Yadav might hand over the reigns of the state to his younger brother Shivpal Singh Yadav or son Akhilesh Yadav and shift base to the Centre.
Reports had also indicated that the CM was involving his brother and son in the administrative work and that of the party, keeping himself free from state affairs.
Though several SP MLAs had offered to 'surrender' their seats for Mr Yadav's entry to the assembly, his specific refusal to the offers made by the MLAs of Azamgarh and Mainpuri had given rise to speculations that he was not interested in state-level politics anymore.
Meanwhile, the state government last night transferred the district magistrate of Badaun and posted S K Singh is place. Singh would also be the returning officer for the by-election.
Sources said the bypoll was likely to be announced by the end of this month and expected to be held in mid-February.
Bureau Report