Faisal Fareed
Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, Jan 2: In politics nothing is permanent - neither friends nor foes. Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's bete-noire DP Yadav is all set to join him on January 2.

The western UP don turned politician DP Yadav and his wife Umlesh Yadav won the 2007 assembly elections on their own outfit. His son Vikas Yadav is in jail facing charges of Nitish Katara murder case.

The dramatic turn of events were witnessed in Rampur on Friday. SP's leader Azam Khan had organised a worker's sammelan in Rampur when suddenly DP Yadav arrived and joined the proceedings. In his brief speech, DP Yadav showered praises on Mulayam stating that all his differences are over and he will soon formally join the party. He also thanked Azam Khan for clearing the air between him and Mulayam.

Dharm Pal Yadav known as DP Yadav has several criminal cases pending against him. He was earlier with Mulayam in 1989 and was even Panchayti Raj minister before parting ways. He joined Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and was made Rajya Sabha MP but was later disowned by saffron brigade. Later, he contested the 2007 assembly elections on his own outfit Rashtriya Parivartan Dal. Both he from Sahaswan and his wife Umlesh Yadav won from Bisauli segment in Badayun. Later, he merged his outfit with Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). He then contested the 2009 Lok Sabha election from Badayun against Mulayam's nephew Dharmendra Yadav but lost by over 30000 votes.

Incidentally, his wife Umlesh Yadav's candidature too has been disqualified on charges of paid news.