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politics

e seemed at peace, the fore- Lucknow, had made the desired im- clusive interview at his plush bunglow,
head lines were less tense pact. Days before the rally the walls situated on Vikramaditya Marg. Com-
and his speech was laced of the city were plastered with very fortably seated on a beautifully sculp-
with a lightness of mood strategically planned posters, where tured green chair, the opulent décor
H and determination of pur- Shivpal was projected as a messiah of in muted shades of grey and white im-
pose. It was after nearly a year of, ‘won’t the wronged. Shivpal had sounded the parted a sobriety to the atmosphere, the
he, will he’ debate all over the country war bugle, a direct threat to his nephew man of few words seems to have now
that Shivpal Yadav, the hitherto number Akhilesh Yadav, former Chief Minister acquired eloquence .
two in the Samajwadi Party had made of Uttar Pradesh, and national presi- Shivpal did not mince words to
his formal political debutante. Leav- dent of the Samajwadi Party. express his disappointment at the
ing nothing to speculations Shivpal “Merey paas kya aur koyee vikalp tha. way the socialist foundation of the
launched his own political outfit-the Mainey bahut intizaar kiya. Main akhir Samajwadi Party was eroded and no
Pragitisheel Samajwadi Party (PSP) kitna apmaan sehta.(Did I have any oth- heed paid to advise of elders like him
Lohia. er alternative. I waited for long. How or founder even the party founder
His “Jan aakrosh’ rally on Decem- much more humiliation could I suffer), Mulayam Singh Yadav. He said after
ber 9 at Ramabai Amedkar Maidan, in said Shivpal, right at the start of this ex- selflessly serving the party right from

Bollywood lyric on betrayal hurts Shivpal

One full year has passed by. It was on January 1, out the Bollywood popular song in a voice that could
2017, at the customary New Year dinner hosted by not be ignored. He greeted the bigwig host calling him
Shivpal Yadav for media, when he had expressed his Dabang, Brave and a promoter of culture. There was
pain and agony by lisping a Bollywood lyric ‘qasmay no stopping this youngster as he showered praise after
vadey pyaar wafa sub wadey hain wadoo ka kya, koi kisi praise on Shivpal. Soon he declared that in his show
ka nahi ye jhoothe naate hain naaton ka kya,” before the he always got the host to sing too. His requests turned
Fourth Estate. cheeky and vociferous and many in the hall feared that
Earlier in the day, at an impromptu national con- he was biting more than what he could chew. Chang-
ventional called by Dr Ram Gopal Yadav, the Sama- ing his tone he declared””ok if you will not sing let me
jwadi Party had been split into two. While Shivpal had sing a song of your choice.”
been reduced to practically a non entity, Chief Minister There was a stony silence … everyone held their
Akhilesh Yadav was anointed as the national presi- breath… maybe the master of ceremonies has gone too
dent, the post hereby held by his father and founder far this time. But much to everyone’s surprise Shivpal
of the party, Mulayam Singh Yadav. A resolution had conceded to his request. “Sing. Qasmey waadey pyaar
passed been passed for the removal of Shivpal as wafaa sab baatein hain baaton ka kya, koi kisi ka nahi ye
Party’s state chief. jhoothe naate hain naaton ka kya,” (An old popular Hindi
The fast emerging political drama in Uttar Pradesh lyric describing betrayal and broken promises and
had acquired grave dimensions in the last week of relationship)
2016. A heavy gloom set in the Mulayam–Shivpal There was another silence, followed by thunderous
camp. Power had been wrestled unceremoniously and clapping and cheering. The teenage singer and team
so quickly. It was hardly the appropriate time for any looked up the lyrics and tuned the instruments
celebrations or rejoicing. and low and behold soon the hall was vibrating
At the venue there was no stampede, no high profile with his melodious voice. Shivpal — known as a man
guests, no overflowing gun totting security. These were of few words — had chosen a Bollywood song to ex-
all indications of a low key affair in the evening. The press his sadness, his broken heart and his pathos. The
mood did not change even when the host entered the media persons all rushed to the front …soon Shivpal
venue. His evergreen smile today looked rather forced, was lisping the lyrics with the singer. Mobile cameras
his aura lacking the VVIP crispness, even the security flashed and few with TV cameras (it was a dinner
in attendance seemed remarkably relaxed….as if there mind u).
was no need to be too alert. That was last year. This year it seemed Shivpal has
The diminutive ex Indian Idol singer was reeling scripted his own show.

tehelka / 31 january 2019 41 www.tehelka.com