Shivpal meets Akhilesh Yadav, says no rift in family

The tension between Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle and UP minister Shivpal Yadav seems to be melting down after assurance of action by the CM.

After a second meeting with Mr Akhilesh in the past 24 hours, UP minister Shivpal Singh Yadav said on Friday that the CM assured him to take appropriate action on the issues raised by him.

“Some people in and outside the party are indulging in illegal activities, including land grabbing. We’ll take action against them soon,” he said after the meeting with the CM for almost 90 minutes.

Mr Yadav denied that there was any rift in the family. “Thodi takleef zaroor thi, magar ab sab theek hai (There was some rift but now everything is sorted out). Akhilesh has done good work. We will all work together to return to the power.”

Talking about the “conspiracy against him in the party”, Mr Yadav said, “The party president will deal with it. He is the head of the family as well as the party.” Mr Yadav added the issue related to the Qaumi Ekta Dal, which created strife in the party, will be finally decided by Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Mr Akhilesh Yadav took the initiative to address the differences with his uncle when he went over to the latter’s house on Raksha Bandhan on Thursday to get ‘rakhi’ tied by Mr Shivpal Yadav’s daughter Anubha.

Mr Shivpal Yadav went to the CM’s residence on Friday to discuss his issues, which forced him to announce he could resign from the government. Thereafter, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav chastised the CM and even warned of ‘big trouble’ if his younger brother walked out of the party.

Both the meetings, it is learnt, were held on the instruction of Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav.