In his address, Mulayam praised party leader Amar Singh and former state ministers Gayatri Prasad Prajapati and Balram Yadav – calling them useful for the family.
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Disagreements between Akhilesh and his uncle have been reported on several occasions, including on the choice of official to be appointed as the state’s chief secretary after Alok Ranjan’s term ended and the postponement of Quami Ekta Dal’s merger with the Samajwadi Party.
The Chief Minister also publicly accepted his uncle’s authority as the State party president, despite protests by his supporters who gathered at the party office here demanding his reinstatement as the state president.
In the wake of Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav resigning from Uttar Pradesh Cabinet and also from the position of the state party chief a tsunami of sorts has hit the cooperative sector as well.
Akhilesh immediately appealed his supporters to keep calm and asked them to stop all agitations and respect the decisions of Netaji. Shivpal was also given additional portfolios of Minor Irrigation and Medical Education. I have worked hard to bring it to this position.
On Friday, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav met Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav at his Lucknow residence and reportedly brokered a peace deal between the two. “This “tamasha” (circus) will not be allowed”, he told the SP workers in a closed-door meeting, according to sources.
After his dramatic resignation from party and cabinet posts, Shivpal on Friday told his supporters that he was with party supremo Mulayam Singh and would do as he said.
The announcements were made as per the compromise formula worked out by Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav who asserted that “There can be no division in the party, till I am there”. Yet, while these two and other Yadav family members and party leaders are certainly involved in the fracas, the real battle is between an aged but domineering father and his anointed heir who – for at least a little while – seemed to have decided not to be bullied anymore.
The SP supremo said the party won the 2012 elections because of the promising party manifesto that was drafted by him with the help of brothers Shivpal and cousin Ram Gopal Yadav.
“We all have to abide by Netaji’s decision”.
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Citing Shivpal’s efforts in consolidating the support base of SP, he questioned Akhilesh’s contribution towards the political success of the party. “Youth is feeling dejected after his removal, they are depressed and even ready to immolate themselves in his favour”, Mohd Aibad, President Mulayam Singh Yadav Youth Brigade, said. When we only promised to work in 2012, we got tremendous support and now we have fullfilled all the promises.
