After his mentor Amar Singh parted ways with SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Upadhyay followed suit. Upadhyay is known to be close to Amar Singh since the duo began its political career as student leaders of the Congress in the early ‘80s.

His siding with the Trinamool has brought in a significant change in the SP set-up in the state with a faction of Upadhyay’s former party pledging support to the Trinamool. This, even as SP’s state head Kiranmoy Nanda is Fisheries minister in the ruling Left Front government.

“Four months ago, I resigned as president of SP’s West Bengal unit. After Amar Singh’s exit from the party, I don’t think I should remain with the party,” said Upadhyay, adding that he and several of his supporters are eager to join any outfit that Amar Singh floats at the national level. “I have spoken to Amar Singh in this regard. He is considering the situation in Delhi and UP. If the CPM is to be challenged in West Bengal, Trinamool is the most important and committed force,” said Upadhyay. 

Upadhyay is said to be in the good books of Mamata ever since he shared stage with the Trinamool chief during her hunger strike on the Singur issue in 2006. “As Mamata Banerjee offered me to contest from ward number 18, I accepted it. No seat is big or small in a political contest,” says Upadhyay.