Mata Prasad Pandey Named Leader of Opposition in UP Assembly

The Samajwadi Party has appointed Mata Prasad Pandey as the leader of opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. Pandey replaces Akhilesh Yadav, who resigned after being elected to the Lok Sabha. Pandey has held various roles including state health minister and assembly speaker.

The Samajwadi Party on Sunday appointed seven-time MLA Mata Prasad Pandey as the leader of opposition (LoP) in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

Pandey, 82, will replace SP president Akhilesh Yadav, who resigned as MLA from Karhal seat in Mainpuri district after his election to the Lok Sabha from Kannauj.

Akhilesh Yadav has appointed Pandey, SP MLA from Itwa in Siddharth Nagar district, as the LoP in the assembly, according to a party leader.

At a meeting at the SP headquarters, party MLAs authorized Akhilesh Yadav to choose the LoP.

The SP also appointed Kamaal Akhtar as chief whip and Rakesh Kumar alias R K Verma as deputy whip in the assembly, stated a party release.

Pandey, a Brahmin, has twice served as Uttar Pradesh Assembly speaker (2004-2007 and 2012-2017).

First elected as MLA in 1980, Pandey has also served as state health minister (1990-1991) and labor and employment minister (2002-2004) in Mulayam Singh Yadav's government.