7-time MLA Mata Prasad Pandey is SP’s pick for UP Assembly LoP

Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party on Sunday appointed seven-time MLA Mata Prasad Pandey the leader of opposition (LoP) in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. Pandey, 82, will replace SP president Akhilesh Yadav, who resigned as MLA from Karhal seat in Mainpuri district after he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Kannauj.

Akhilesh Yadav has appointed Pandey, SP MLA from Itwa in Siddharth Nagar district, the leader of opposition 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 R K Verma as the deputy whip in the assembly, a party release said. “Hearty congratulations and best wishes to senior Samajwadi (Party) leader Shri Mata Prasad Pandey ji on being elected as the leader of opposition in the UP Legislative Assembly!” Akhilesh Yadav said in a post on X in Hindi.

He said Pandey’s rich experience will benefit all SP MLAs, assembly speaker, chief minister and all his ministers and MLAs. Pandey, a Brahmin, has held the post of Uttar Pradesh Assembly speaker twice -- 2004-2007 and 2012-2017.