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  India   Samajwadi Party leader’s birthday again reveals friction in family

Samajwadi Party leader’s birthday again reveals friction in family

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : Jun 30, 2016, 2:12 am IST
Updated : Jun 30, 2016, 2:12 am IST

Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav (from left) is offered a piece of cake by his brother, party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, at his 70th birthday celebrations in Lucknow. UP CM Akhilesh Yadav is also seen. (Photo: PTI)

Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav (from left) is offered a piece of cake by his brother, party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, at his 70th birthday celebrations in Lucknow. UP CM Akhilesh Yadav is also seen. (Photo: PTI)

Birthdays are turning out to be a massive affair in the Samajwadi Party and often showcase the changing equations in the party’s leadership.

Senior SP MP Ram Gopal Yadav’s 70th birthday on Wednesday was one such occasion. The event, marked by a book release, was held on a grand scale with the entire party leadership from mentor Mulayam Singh Yadav to chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on the dais.

Prof Ram Gopal Yadav, while releasing his book Sansad Mein Meri Baat, said it was Mulayam Singh Yadav who brought him into politics. “I was happy as a lecturer in a college but Netaji (Mulayam) brought me in politics. He made me a block pramukh in Etawah and then snit me to the Rajya Sabha. I have never done anything which could have sullied the image of the party and its leaders”, he stated.

Prof Yadav also showered praises on chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and said that his development agenda had put Uttar Pradesh on the fast track. He added that Akhilesh Yadav’s efforts were being appreciated even outside Uttar Pradesh.

SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav, meanwhile, gave his blessings to Prof Yadav and lauded his contribution to the party.

The ongoing tussle in the Samajwadi leadership, once again, became evident when Shivpal Singh Yadav made a late entry at the event and chose to sit in the last row until he was brought to the front row by Amar Singh. Senior minister Muhammad Azam Khan was conspicuous by his absence.

Amar Singh, in his speech, blamed the media for spreading canards about the family tussle. “They may be eating in different houses but when it comes to facing an enemy, everyone comes together”, he said.

Mr Singh further said, “The SP is a complete party.”

Meanwhile, Lucknow, on Wednesday, was draped with huge hoardings wishing Prof Yadav on his 70th birthday. This is the first time that the senior leader’s birthday has been celebrated on such a large scale.

Location: India, Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow