Akhilesh’s former deputy, Uttam a strong organiser

AFTER CHIEF Minister Akhilesh Yadav was named SP national president at the party’s national convention on Sunday, the CM declared party MLC Naresh Uttam the new state president of the SP.

Uttam (58) belongs to the Kurmi community, which is in the OBC category. Hailing from Fatehpur district, he is a postgraduate in arts from Kanpur University.

Uttam, who joined politics when he came in contact with Mulayam Singh Yadav in 1980, and is known as a “dedicated worker” and “uncontroversial leader”. Insiders said he is regarded as a party loyalist. He is also considered a strong hand when it comes to party organisation and cadre building.

Uttam was first elected MLA from Jahanabad as a Janata Dal candidate in 1989. He was a minister in the first Mulayam government from 1989 to 1991. During Mulayam’s second term as CM in 1993, Uttam was made a member of UP Backward Class Commission and given the rank of a minister. He has also been SP MLC — in 2006 and 2012.

When Akhilesh was SP state president, Uttam was his deputy. But Uttam was removed from the post soon after Shivpal Yadav replaced Akhilesh as state chief.

Further, Uttam is a member of Janeshwar Mishra Trust, which is headed by Akhilesh. He also heads the backward castes cell of the party. When the rift between Akhilesh and Shivpal became apparent in June last year, Uttam chose to side with Akhilesh.

When contacted, Uttam said: “I have been associated with Mulayam Singh Yadav since 1980... following Mulayam’s directive, I have worked to strengthen Akhilesh in every election.”

Pramod Adhikari A man records proceedings of the SP special convention on his cellphone.

Pramod Adhikari Naresh Uttam at the SP headquarters in Lucknow on Sunday.