Shivpal reaps benefits of BJP friendship: Yogi approves Mayawati bungalow, Z+ security

The Yogi Adityanath’s Government in UP on Friday allotted Akhilesh’s alienated uncle Shivpal Yadav the bungalow that was occupied by BSP chief Mayawati till last year. The spacious bungalow is located at 6, Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg in Lucknow.

Uttar Pradesh Government’s decision to allot the spacious bungalow to Shivpal has sparked criticism from the opposition. “He is just an MLA from Jaswantnagar seat. How can he be allotted that bungalow,” said a Samajwadi Party leader.

In another development, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath has approved for Z plus security to Samajwadi Secular Morcha founder Shivpal Yadav.

According to sources, an alleged security threat to Yadav could be the reason for the increased security. A recent Intelligence Bureau report mentioned about the security issues of the Morcha founder, which was also cited in order to allot Mayawati's vacated bungalow to the Jaswantnagar MLA.

“This clearly shows the dual policy of the BJP government. The parties that toe its line are allotted bungalows while opposition parties are threatened with notices,” said NCP leader Ramesh Dixit.

The bungalow allotment on Mall Avenue to Shivpal is being seen by political analysts as a sign of growing friendship between Shivpal Yadav and the ruling BJP. It is also being speculated in the political circles that ruling BJP is appeasing Shivpal only to widen the rift between the Yadav family ahead of 2019 general elections.

“I have been a five-time MLA and former Minister, owing to which I had applied for a bigger space. After which a report was sought from the Intelligence department and only after their report, this new house was allotted to me by the Government. All the rules and regulations have been followed in the allotment,” said Shivpal on Friday.

Justifying the allotment, Estate officer Yogesh Shukla was quoted in the media saying Shivpal was eligible for allotment of Category 6 bungalow and the Estate Department had received an application from him for allotment of a Government accommodation according to his seniority. “The bungalow on Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg was lying vacant and has been allotted to him,” he said.

UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya has recently said that Shivpal Yadav should merge his party with the BJP.

On May 7 this year, the Supreme Court had struck down a provision of an Uttar Pradesh law that let former chief ministers retain government bungalows.

After the apex court verdict, former chief ministers Akhilesh Yadav, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mayawati, Rajnath Singh, ND Tiwari and Kalyan Singh had to vacate their bungalows.

Hardly a month after Shivpal applied for registration of his political front with the Election Commission, he was allotted the bungalow located a few yards from the chief minister’s office.

Interestingly, the office of frontal organisations of the Samajwadi Party is located adjacent to the bungalow.

This article was updated at 12.11 pm to include the latest development