Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday expelled his son and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his cousin Ram Gopal Yadav from the party for six years.
Flanked by brother Shivpal Yadav, who has been at loggerheads with the Chief Minister, Mulayam said he had taken the action against Akhilesh and Ramgopal to save the party which he had built through hard efforts. He said the party will decide on the new chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.
The Akhilesh faction with Ram Gopal Yadav’s support came up with a separate list of candidates, sparking a crisis. “I am expelling both Akhilesh and Ram Gopal Yadav from the party for six years,” Mulayam Singh told reporters at a hurriedly-called press conference here. Mulayam Singh said “no one has the right to call national council meeting” other than the party chief and the decision was taken to give a “strong message” to party cadres. He also accused Ram Gopal of damaging the future prospects of Akhilesh Yadav. “The party is our priority… both of them indulged in indiscipline,” he said. Asked who would be the new Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh: “We will decide that.” Mulayam also appealed party workers to not attend the convention called by the Akhilesh-Ram Gopal faction.
Meanwhile, in a direct reference to Shivpal Yadav, party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said that there are forces within the party who do not want Akhilesh to become chief minister for the second time. “Bahut saari aisi shaktiyan hai, ek aadh aadmi dal ke andar bhi jo ye nahi chahte ke Akhilesh dubara Mukyamantri bane,” said Yadav.
Earlier in the day today, UP CM Akhilesh Yadav spoke to his father to categorically convey his displeasure over the choice of names. Amid all this chaos and uncertainty, hectic political activities began right from the morning with party leaders gathering outside the residences of Akhilesh and Mulayam. A big crowd also assembled outside Shivpal’s residence.
