In the wake of its disastrous performance in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, Samajwadi Party (SP) has dismissed all its panellists for TV channels with immediate effect. The decision taken by party chief Akhilesh Yadav was conveyed through a notice sent to bureau chiefs of electronic media.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav dismisses the nomination of all the panelists of the party, and asks the media houses to not invite any SP office-bearer for debates. pic.twitter.com/CRK60X6Exh
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 24, 2019
SP fought the elections in alliance with Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh, forgoing its bitter rivalry, but was restricted to mere 5 seats. The Mahagathbandhan that was touted to create magic in the state could win only 15 seats together. While Yadav managed to defeat Bhojpuri star and BJP candidate Nirhua Dinesh Yadav from Azamgarh, his wife Dimple had to face defeat in Kannauj.
Mulayam Singh Yadav, Dr. S.T. Hasan, Azam Khan, Dr. Shafiquer Rehman Barq are other candidates who managed to win from Mainpuri, Moradabad, Rampur, and Sambhal respectively.
The decision to end the tenure of TV panellists has come directly from Yadav who has requested the media houses to refrain from inviting spokespersons from his party to participate in TV debates. The notice has also been sent to the nominated panellists, asking them to not to go to any channel for panel discussions as their nomination as spokespersons have been cancelled.