Samajwadi Party MLA Shivpal Yadav on Wednesday, 16 September publicly endorsed his nephew Akhilesh Yadav's new role as chief of the Lohia Trust, declaring that no political leader in Uttar Pradesh matched the SP president's developmental outlook. The remarks came just days after Akhilesh replaced Shivpal at the helm of the ideological trust founded in honour of socialist icon Ram Manohar Lohia.

Shivpal's Endorsement of Akhilesh

Speaking to reporters at an event in Etawah, Shivpal said: 'I have seen that there have been many parties in Uttar Pradesh, but nobody has a modern developmental vision like Akhilesh Yadav.' He also clarified that the leadership transition was not forced upon him, stating that he himself had convened the meeting at which he proposed Akhilesh's name for the post, and the suggestion was subsequently passed by those present.

Shivpal added that under Akhilesh's stewardship, the Lohia Trust could flourish and carry Ram Manohar Lohia's ideas to a wider public — a development he argued would simultaneously strengthen the Samajwadi Party's grassroots connect.

NDA Ministers Wade In

The smooth optics of the handover drew pointed scepticism from the ruling alliance. UP Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar argued that Akhilesh Yadav could not realistically repose trust in his uncle, citing Shivpal's turbulent political past. Rajbhar recalled that Shivpal had, after leaving the SP, openly accused the party of becoming a grouping of 'thieves and rogues' dominated by mafias, and had alleged that people involved in encroaching on the land of the poor had entered its ranks. Shivpal subsequently floated his own outfit, the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party Lohia (PSPL), before a period of association with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

UP Minister Anil Rajbhar also weighed in, alleging that Akhilesh Yadav 'did not have faith in anyone and even lacked confidence in himself' — a characterisation the SP has not formally responded to.

Shivpal Fires Back at Critics

Shivpal was dismissive of Om Prakash Rajbhar's assessment. 'He is afraid,' the MLA remarked tersely when asked about the minister's comments. He then broadened his attack to encompass the entire NDA government in Uttar Pradesh, asserting: 'The true state of affairs regarding the government and the NDA alliance across Uttar Pradesh is evident to all. Nothing gets done in the state without extortion, bribery, dishonesty, and corruption. They are afraid that we will form the government in 2027.'

What the Lohia Trust Transition Signals

The reshuffle at the Lohia Trust is widely read as an attempt by the SP to consolidate its socialist ideological identity ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Notably, the Yadav family's internal tensions — which once threatened to split the party — appear, at least publicly, to have been papered over, with Shivpal now among Akhilesh's vocal supporters. Whether that unity holds under electoral pressure remains the key question as the SP positions itself as the principal challenger to the BJP-led NDA in the state.