Mighty Mulayam Singh Yadav now a lonely man

For the first time in his five-decade career, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav is getting increasingly isolated in his own party and family.

After the near revolt by expelled youth leaders of the party, it is now two SP MLCs who have unfurled the banner of revolt against Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Udaiveer Singh (Agra) and Rajesh Yadav (Barabanki) have now sent letters to the SP chief saying that they would not attend the party’s silver jubilee function on November 5 because they have faith in the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav.

Mr Singh has gone a step ahead and demanded that Mulayam Singh Yadav should step down from his post and appoint Akhilesh Yadav as the party’s national president. He also alleged that some family members in the Yadav clan are conspiring against Akhilesh Yadav.

Four of the five party MPs, who are also family members, are backing Akhilesh Yadav. They include Akshay Yadav (Ferozabad), Dharmendra Yadav (Badaun), Tej Pratap Yadav (Mainpuri) and Dimple Yadav (Kannauj). Akshay Yadav has publicly announced that without Akhilesh Yadav, the party would win less than 20 seats. These MPs, sources said, will be accompanying Akhilesh Yadav on his yatra that begins on November 3.

Rajya Sabha MPs, Ram Gopal Yadav and Kirannmoy Nanda, have already announced their support to the CM.

The Akhilesh loyalists are now actively professing their support to the CM on the social media, while there is no word in support of Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Among the ministers, Rajendra Chaudhary has shifted loyalty to the CM, while the others are adopting a wait-and-watch policy.

None of the senior ministers, including Mohd. Azam Khan, Balram Yadav, Ahmad Hasan and Ram Govind Chaudhary have come out to defend the party high command during the on-going crisis. “This is essentially a family matter and Mulayam Singh Yadav has to resolve things at home. The party will automatically fall in line,” said a senior minister.

Senior SP legislators, on the other hand, are apprehensive about the outcome of the situation. “What will we do if the father-son patch up in the end We can’t afford to take sides and it is best to stay away from Lucknow till the situation crystallises,” said an SP MLA.

That the Akhilesh loyalists are gradually taking over the party is evident from the fact that the press statements from the Team Akhilesh, including the rebel leaders, are regularly being uploaded on the official party website.