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  India   SP war turns ugly: Angry Mulayam, defiant Akhilesh in shouting match

SP war turns ugly: Angry Mulayam, defiant Akhilesh in shouting match

Published : Oct 25, 2016, 6:55 am IST
Updated : Oct 25, 2016, 6:55 am IST

The Samajwadi Party warfare turned ugly on Monday, with a fight erupting in the open between angry father Mulayam Singh Yadav and defiant son Akhilesh at a meeting of party MLAs, MLCs and MPs.

Security forces deployed in front of Samajwadi Party office in Lucknow. (Photo: PTI)
 Security forces deployed in front of Samajwadi Party office in Lucknow. (Photo: PTI)

The Samajwadi Party warfare turned ugly on Monday, with a fight erupting in the open between angry father Mulayam Singh Yadav and defiant son Akhilesh at a meeting of party MLAs, MLCs and MPs. SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav challenged chief minister Akhilesh Yadav by saying: “What is your position and status Tumhari haisiyat kya hai Can you win elections on your own ”

A visibly upset and emotional Akhilesh offered to quit as CM but said that he would not launch a new party.

Towards the end of the meeting, the situation took a turn for the worse when uncle Shivpal Yadav, who was sacked from the Akhilesh government on Sunday, snatched the mike from the chief minister when the latter began accusing SP MP Amar Singh for planting stories in which he was described as “Aurangzeb” and his father as “Shah Jahan”. Shivpal called his nephew Akhilesh a liar, and this led to a scuffle between the supporters of the two leaders on the dais.

Later on Monday, Mulyam Singh Yadav, however, categorically ruled out Akhilesh’s removal as CM.

The meeting of Samajwadi MPs, MLAs and MLCs convened by party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav witnessed high emotional drama and a lot of fireworks. Mulayam Singh Yadav, in his tirade against his son, said: “You got a post and lost your mind. Pad mila aur dimaag kharab ho gaya. You are protecting alcoholics, gamblers anti-social elements... Those betraying me will be exposed. Some leaders are sycophants, and you should recognise them.”

The SP president made it clear that “I am not as weak as some of you think. The youth is still with me. Lal topi pehen kar koi Samajwadi nahin ho jata”.

The party supremo made it clear that he would never abandon his brother Shivpal Singh Yadav and Amar Singh, “who is also my brother”.

A visibly emotional Akhilesh said: “This is your party and you have made me what I am. I am ready to resign if you want or you can remove me but I will not tolerate those who are conspiring against me.”

State SP chief Shivpal Singh then recalled his long association with Mulayam Singh Yadav, and said he too had also contributed towards building up the party but was humiliated twice — once when his portfolios were take away, and then when he was sacked.

Shivpal left the party stunned when he said Akhilesh had told him he would form a new party and contest elections in alliance with another party. Shivpal Yadav said he was ready to swear to this.

“What is my fault I have never interfered in the chief minister’s working, but he never listened to me when I complained against some officers. If Mulayam Singh Yadav appointed me as state president, is it my fault ” he asked.

He also said he had been working Mulayam Singh since he was 15 years old. “Have I not made any contribution towards building up this party ” he asked.

Later when Akhilesh touched his father’s feet and reminded him that it was birthday today, Mulayam Singh Yadav made a last-ditch attempt to broker peace and asked Akhilesh to also touch the feet of Shivpal, and take his blessings which Akhilesh then did.

After this, the situation took another ugly turn when Mulayam Singh Yadav said he had received a letter from party MLC Ashu Malik, saying Muslims were angry with the chief minister who had not done much to protect the community.

Akhilesh reacted by talking about the “Aurangzeb” report and MLC Ashu Malik was called on the stage, but he denied he had planted the story at the behest of Amar Singh. This led to jostling and a scuffle on the stage and Akhilesh Yadav stomped out, after which Mulayam Singh Yadav was also escorted out by his security personnel. The chief minister took MLC Ashu Malik with him to save him from the wrath of his supporters.

Later, Ashu Malik said he was slapped by MLA Pawan Pandey at the chief minister’s residence when Akhilesh Yadav was not present. He said he will lodge a FIR on this issue.

Meanwhile, as soon as news reached the supporters waiting outside, clashes erupted once again and the chief minister’s supporters beat up the supporters of Shivpal Yadav.

The police, which had been deployed in strength at the CM’s residence, remained silent spectators throughout the drama. Later in the evening, Akhilesh Yadav called a meeting of MLAs at his residence and asked them to prepare for elections. He said no one would defy the directives of Mulayam Singh Yadav and there was no question of forming a separate party.

Location: India, Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow