7-time MLA to replace Akhilesh as LoP in UP

Lucknow, July 28

The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Sunday appointed seven-time MLA Mata Prasad Pandey as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

Pandey, 82, will replace SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who resigned as MLA from the Karhal seat in Mainpuri after he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Kannauj. Akhilesh Yadav has appointed Pandey, SP MLA from Itwa in Siddharth Nagar district, the LoP in the Assembly, a party leader said.

At a meeting held earlier at the SP headquarters here, the party MLAs had authorised Akhilesh Yadav to choose the LoP. The SP also appointed Kamaal Akhtar as the chief whip and Rakesh Kumar, alias RK Verma, as the deputy whip in the Assembly, a party release said. “Hearty congratulations and best wishes to senior SP leader Shri Mata Prasad Pandey ji on being elected as the LoP in UP Legislative Assembly!” Akhilesh Yadav wrote on X in Hindi.

He said Pandey’s “rich experience” would benefit all SP MLAs, Assembly speaker, Chief Minister and all his ministers and MLAs.