Addressing party workers here after meeting the two warring leaders separately, Mulayam Singh also said the Samajwadi Party would never split till he was around.
Advertisement
“We are united, there is no rift in Samajwadi party”, he said, adding that politics is not a game, it is a serious business. Yesterday, AKhilesh had admitted he was very upset at being removed from the post of state party president by his father and party supremo and had demanded that he be given a say in the ticket distribution for the 2017 Assembly election. It’s election time and everyone should go to booth level and spread awareness on the good work done by the Government.”Wherever the youths go, the direction changes”. Ideally, the party strategy would have been to project Akhilesh as the modern face of the SP, while allowing Shivpal to drive the campaign on the ground, but this fighting could mar the party’s image and divide the loyalties of party workers. Terming the CM’s ambitious projects like Metro as unnecessary, Mulayam said funds allocated for the project could have been used for welfare of farmers.
“Samajwadi Party is a family. There are no differences in the party”, he said.
In addition to Shivpal Yadav, Akhilesh also announced that state mining minister Gayatri Prajapati, who was sacked over allegations of corruption, would also be re-instated.
“We all have to strengthen Samajwadi Party”. We are with Netaji (Mulayam Singh). His message is an order for us.
He once again reiterated his support for younger brother Shivpal Yadav and said he too had done huge work for the party, and mused that he would not allow all this to happen in the party to which he has given his sweat and blood.
“Hum sab Netaji ke saath hain (We are all with Mulayam)”, he said. “We have a great organisation”, he said.
The BSP chief also questioned the return of tainted Minister Gayatri Prajapati, wondering why he was being taken back into the government if he was corrupt.
The ruling party circles witnessed hectic confabulations right from the morning with a number of legislators and ministers meeting Shivpal. On the other hand, the supporters on Saturday gathered outside Shivpal’s residence. He also feels bad about whatever happened.
Mulayam had rushed here from Delhi last evening after the public feud between Akhilesh and Shivpal deepened.
The war within the Samajwadi Party erupted on Tuesday when Akhilesh Yadav ousted the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary, another Shivpal protege, after earlier showing the door to Prajapati. Does his insecurity emanate from a statement given by Shivpal that the new chief minister – in case of a majority – will be decided by the party legislators at that time?
Advertisement
One of his supporters also tried to immolate himself demanding sacking of Mulayam’s cousin Ramgopal Yadav.
