LUCKNOW, Sept. 24 -- The Samajwadi Party has changed its Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, with MLC Mohammad Jasmir Ansari set to replace Lal Bihari Yadav, who resigned from the post citing his busy schedule following his nomination for the Teachers' Constituency election, ahead of the October polls to 11 seats in the Upper House. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has approved Ansari's appointment, according to party sources. Ansari, who has been the party's deputy leader in the Council, will now lead its floor strategy in the 100-member House. Yadav cited his busy schedule, following his nomination as the party's candidate for the Teachers' Constituency election from the Varanasi block, as the reason for stepping down in his resignation letter. The change comes at a significant point for the SP in the Council. The party currently has 10 MLCs, meeting the 10% strength required for the LoP post. Eleven seats from the graduates' and teachers' constituencies are due to go to polls on October 23. Three of the SP's existing MLCs - Lal Bihari Yadav, Man Singh Yadav and Ashutosh Sinha - represent constituencies going to polls this year and have been renominated by the party. The SP has also fielded candidates in other constituencies, including Gorakhpur-Faizabad Teachers and Lucknow Graduates. Ansari is an SP MLC elected by members of the legislative assembly and is from Sitapur district. Before entering the Council, he served as an MLA from Laharpur. As LoP, Ansari will represent the SP on the floor of the Council and coordinate the party's response to government business, party sources said....