The Samajwadi Party faces a significant setback in Uttar Pradesh as former MP and significant leader Devendra Yadav from the Etah Lok Sabha constituency joins the BJP fold. Kunwar Devendra Singh Yadav, considered very close to Mulayam Singh's family, has taken up BJP membership at their Lucknow office.
Previously, the Samajwadi Party had fielded a candidate from the traditionally BJP-aligned Shakya community, delivering a shock to their opponents. Subsequently, the BJP has turned the tables by incorporating influential Yadav community leader Devendra Yadav into their camp, thus heating up the battle for Etah.
Devendra Singh Yadav's Political Journey
Originally from Alipur Barwara in Kasganj, Devendra Singh Yadav began his political career by contesting village head elections. He then became the Block Pramukh from Soro for three terms. In 1979, Devendra Singh Yadav first reached the state assembly as a Congress member, and in 1984, he was elected as an MLA from the Samajwadi Party.
Following that, Devendra Singh Yadav became an MP for the first time in 1999 and then returned to the Lok Sabha in 2004, both times under the Samajwadi Party banner. Competing against Kalyan Singh in 2009, he lost the Lok Sabha election, and subsequently in 2014 and 2019, Kalyan Singh's son Rajveer Singh defeated him. On Sunday, under the leadership of Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak in Lucknow, Devendra Singh Yadav was inducted into BJP, thereby completely flipping the script.
