Mulayam Singh Yadav will be CM of UP: Shivpal Singh Yadav

Etawah/Lucknow, Mar 6 (ANI): With the Samajwadi Party (SP) taking a clear lead in Uttar Pradesh, senior party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav on Tuesday said Mulayam Singh Yadav would be the chief minister of the state.

"The respected leader (Mulayam Singh Yadav) of the Samajwadi Party will be the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. He will be the chief minister," said Yadav.

"I have not disappeared. I am here only. I am still holding the position of the office-bearer in the party," he added, when asked that only the names of Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son Akhilesh Yadav was being heard from the Samajwadi Party.

Yadav further said the Samajwadi Party was confident enough to form the government on its own.

Meanwhile, supporters of Samajwadi Party were seen celebrating the party's victory in Lucknow.

This will be Mulayam Singh Yadav's fourth term as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Yadav, 72, has been the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh thrice earlier.

His first term as chief minister was from December 5, 1989 to January 24, 1991. He became the chief minister of the state for the second time on December 5, 1993 and his tenure extended till June 3, 1995.

The Samajwadi Party chief was sworn in as the chief minister again on August 29, 2003 and his tenure extended till May 11, 2007.

In Uttar Pradesh so far, the Samajwadi Party (SP) has surged ahead and is close to the halfway mark. The Samajwadi Party is at the moment leading in 160 seats and has won in 60 seats. (ANI)