Akhilesh, who took over as the youngest chief minister of Uttar Pradesh at 38 in 2012, wants to break from the Samajwadi Party’s identity politics of the past and fight the election on an agenda of development and clean governance.
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They accused Akhilesh Yadav of humiliating Shivpal Yadav and insisted that the Chief Minister should apologize to his uncle by touching his feet.
“I had resigned from all posts last night after a brief meeting with Akhilesh”.
Shivpal Yadav then reportedly met Mulayam Singh Yadav and told him he could not continue to work as a demoted minister in the government.
Ram Gopal said “some people” with “no concern” for the party were “taking advantage” of Mulayam’s “simplicity”.
“He is the same person, who used netaji’s simplicity to make an incharge of the party (Shivpal was earlier made SP UP incharge). I am awaiting his decision, which will be announced tomorrow”, Shivpal said.
With the Samajwadi chieftain stepping in decisively, both the warring parties, Akhilesh Yadav and his belligerently ambitious uncle, Shivpal Yadav, have sheathed their daggers for the time being. “In every situation, we are with Netaji“, said Shivpal, while addressing supporters outside his residence in Lucknow.
What mollified him was the third big element in the deal: that he would get to have a decisive say in the distribution of tickets for the coming Assembly polls, where the SP will be battling a creeping anti-incumbency factor.
Akhilesh: Netaji and I have decided not to allow any “outsider” to interfere in the party and family affairs.
Prior to the 2012 Assembly elections in UP, Mulayam had projected Akhilesh as the party’s youth face and asked him to hold rallies against Mayawati and build public opinion in favour of Samajwadi Party across the state.
Setting in motion the reconciliation process, Mulayam as well as Akhilesh earlier rejected Shivpal’s resignation from the Cabinet as well as the head of state party unit, to which he was appointed two days ago replacing Akhilesh. “I will give up everything if someone asks me humbly”. For four years and more, Akhilesh Yadav put up with his father’s callous disregard for the fact that he was the chief minister, as well as Shivpal and Azam Khan’s tantrums in the government and their attempts to meddle in the decision making process. He also said that there was neither any fight between Shivpal and his cousin Ramgopal Yadav, who sided with the chief minister during the crisis.
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About the action against Shivpal by Akhilesh, he said, “When there is an action, it will have reaction”. Shivpal has stood firm and said, “Amar Singh can never harm the parivaar”. A decision on Akhikesh Yadav’s role in the party is expected on Saturday. One has to apply his mind also.
