UP Election 2022: Why is Akhilesh breathing fire on Raja Bhaiya even as Mulayam blesses 'Kunda Ka Gunda'

A picture set off speculations in the UP's political dangal in the run up to 2022 elections.

Pratapgarh strongman Raja Bhaiya met SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav on his 83rd birthday. He wished SP leader and sought his blessings. Both were all smiles in the picture.

This triggered speculation of a Raja Bhaiya and SP alliance.

Then came a cryptic and snarky response from Akhilesh Yadav when asked about Raja Bhaiya in the don's own hometurf of Pratapgarh.

"Who are you talking about?", Akhilesh snapped.

So why is Akhilesh so bitter with Raja Bhaiya when his dad was seen offering him sweets?

Why is Akhilesh refusing to even name the leader whom he himself made a minister in his govenment in 2012?

There is a history to this bitterness.

Flashback 2018. Akhilesh was now the former CM after losing the 2017 Assembly elections to the BJP, SP and BSP had started coming close.

In 2017, Lok Sabha by-elections in Phulpur and Gorakhpur, BSP supported SP resulting in party's win in both the seats.

Then came Rajya Sabha elections n UP in 2018. SP decided to support Mayawati's candidate.

Raja Bhaiya at that time had pledged support to SP for the BSP candidate. He was also seen at a mega dinner party thrown by Akhilesh Yadav before the Rajya Sabha polls.

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But Raja Bhaiya took a political somersault. SP alleged that Raja Bhaiya and his supporting MLAs voted for the BJP candidate and defeated BSP candidate who was supported by the SP.

There is also a bitter Maya and Raja Bhaiya history.

Maya as CM jailed him under POTA and got his infamous pond dug up in Kunda where he allegedly fed people to crocodiles.

So, Raja Bhaiya's betrayal in the Rajya Sabha poll riled up Akhilesh no end and he has not forgotten it yet.

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