After Tipu, Teju Pratap ninth of Yadav clan to enter UP politics

When political watchers discuss the famous Yadav clan, they mostly have two things to talk about – the family in politics and the politics in the family. Both facets of the Yadav family became a subject for heated discussion once again on Tuesday when Tej Pratap (27), fondly known as 'Teju Bhaiya' in his native Sefai (Etawah), won the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat, vacated by Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, by a huge margin.

The Lok Sabha would soon witness parliamentary history in the making with five members of one family as MPs at the same time. Mulayam's 'bahu' Dimple, and nephews Dharmendra and Akshay are already there. UK-educated Tej Pratap is the ninth member of the 'Samajwadi parivar' to join active politics.

The Yadav family's joy over the Mainpuri victory might be short-lived as it promises to set off bitter bickering inside Mulayam's house. It once again pushes the political future of Mulayam's second son and UP CM Akhilesh Yadav alias Tipu's younger step-brother Prateek further into limbo. Insiders say he was keen on contesting the Mainpuri by-poll, but Akhilesh put his foot down. The UP CM has been opposing his entry into politics strongly and rather bitterly. "The tug-of-war between the step brothers can get ugly any day," says a source close to the family.

Born in 1987 in Sefai, Tej Pratap is the grandson of the SP chief's late elder brother Ratan Singh Yadav, and started his political career as Sefai 'block pramukh'. He is the son of Ranveer Singh Yadav, Mulayam's late nephew. It was Ranveer Singh who first organized the annual festival, now famous as 'Sefai Mahotsav', in 1997. Ranveer, greatly adored by the people of Sefai, died at a young age in 2002. He was then the 'block pramukh' of Sefai.

Those who know the Yadav clan say Mulayam has carefully groomed 'Teju' to take up his father's position since then. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, when Mulayam decided to contest from Azamgarh along with Mainpuri, it was widely reported that he did this to counter the Modi effect in east UP. But very few knew that the decision was meant to prepare the launching pad for 'Teju Bhaiya'.

Tej Pratap, known to be suave, polite and respectful of elders, always worked tirelessly in the background, never craving credit in party activities. He did his schooling at Delhi Public School (Noida) and did his graduation from Amity University (Noida). Later, he enrolled himself into University of Leeds (UK) to study M.Sc. in management.

After the SP's crippling defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, there was speculation that the SP chief might think beyond his family and pitch in for an SP leader like Azam Khan. However, the SP supremo decided to bet on 'Teju', who he reportedly dotes on, encouraged perhaps by the victory of his kin while all other party candidates in the rest of the 75 seats of UP were thoroughly rejected despite SP being in power.

People in Mainpuri had got wind of Mulayam's plans during the election campaign itself as the SP chief restricted himself to Azamgarh while leaving the entire electioneering in his backyard to a trusted 'Teju'.

Tej Pratap has a clean image, is well educated and an articulate speaker. Besides, his intimate rapport with the local people, the love and respect they have for his father, and Mulayam's grooming and blessings seem to have worked the magic for this rookie politician in the by-poll.

The Samajwadi Parivar
1. Mulayam Singh Yadav, 74: Samajwadi Party president. Was CM in 1989, 1993 and 2003; Union Defence Minister in the United Front government in 1996.
2. Akhilesh Yadav, 40:Mulayam's son from his first wife, the late Malti Devi, Akhilesh first won the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat in the 2000 by-poll. Became the youngest Chief Minister of UP in 2012.
3. Dimple Yadav, 37: Daughter of a former army officer and a Rajput from Uttarakhand, Akhilesh's wife and second time MP from Kannauj.
4. Ram Gopal Yadav, 68: Cousin of Mulayam, he is SP general secretary and is considered the party's think tank. Has been Rajya Sabha MP since 1992.
5. Shivpal Yadav, 59: Mulayam's younger brother and Cabinet Minister with several important portfolios. Seen as Number 2 in the Akhilesh ministry.
6. Aditya Yadav aka Ankur Yadav, 26: Elder son of Shivpal Yadav, and now Chairman, Pradeshik Co-operative Federation (PCF).
7. Dharmendra Yadav, 35: Son of Mulayam's younger brother Abhay Ram, elected to Lok Sabha from Mainpuri in a by-poll in 2004; re-elected from Budaun in 2009 and 2014.
8. Akshay Yadav, 28: Son of Ram Gopal Yadav. Elected to Lok Sabha from Ferozabad in 2014.
9. Tej Pratap Yadav, 24: The newest entrant from the family into politics. Elected MP from Mainpuri in by-poll held on Sep 13, 2014.