The Uttar Pradesh government led by Yogi Adityanath has allocated the government residence, previously occupied by Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati as per a Supreme Court directive, to Shivpal Yadav, the founder of the Samajwadi Secular Morcha.

Shivpal Yadav, the estranged uncle of Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and the brother of party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, clarified that the allocation was made due to intelligence reports suggesting potential threats to him. Emphasizing his status as a five-time legislator and a senior member of the state assembly, he asserted that the allotment followed proper procedures, as he had applied for a government residence. Currently residing in his personal house on Vikramaditya Marg, Shivpal Yadav may utilize the allotted bungalow for activities related to the Samajwadi Secular Morcha.

The genesis of the morcha dates back to August when Shivpal Yadav, feeling neglected in the Samajwadi Party under Akhilesh Yadav’s leadership, launched the new outfit. Despite forming the morcha, he has not severed ties with the Samajwadi Party, affirming that the morcha will contest the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elections independently and without an alliance with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Mayawati vacated the bungalow in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling that annulled an amendment allowing former chief ministers to retain government residences after their terms ended. Subsequently, several former chief ministers, including Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, Narain Dutt Tiwari, and Rajnath Singh, had to vacate their official accommodations in the state capital.