Akhilesh is MLC, so Shivpal could be leader of Opp.

Having lost the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, outgoing chief minister Akhilesh Yadav will not even be able to become the Leader Of the Opposition in the state Assembly even though his party is the largest party in Opposition with 47 seats.

Mr Akhilesh Yadav has not contested the Assembly elections and is a member of the UP legislative council and hence, he cannot become the Leader Of the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha.

Party sources claim that the choice for the post of the Opposition leader will narrow down between Mohd Azam Khan and Shivpal Yadav, and if Akhilesh has his way, he will prefer Mr Khan to his estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav. But after the humiliating defeat of the SP, the outgoing chief minister will be under tremendous pressure in the coming days from within the family to toe his father Mulayam Singh Yadav’s line.

Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, and now his second wife Sadhana Gupta Yadav, have always stood by Shivpal Yadav and have publicly disapproved of the manner

Party sources claim if Akhilesh Yadav has his way, he will prefer Azam Khan to his estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav

in which Akhilesh has treated him.

According to sources, Akhilesh is in no mood to get a seat vacated for himself and contest a byelections to enter the state Assembly.

“In this atmosphere where the Modi magic is reigning supreme in UP, it would be very risky to opt for a by-election and the chief minister would not prefer this”, said a senior party leader.

Akhilesh, sources close to him said, will prefer to remain in the public eye by charting a larger strategy with the Congress and continuing his crusade against the BJP. He has already made it clear on Saturday that his alliance with the Congress will continue.

The entire Yadav clan will be in their native village Sefai for the next two days for Holi and chances are that some new developments or reconciliation may take places in the changed political situation here.