A day after Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said all was well between his son Akhilesh Yadav and brother Shivpal Yadav, the chief minister’s supporters took to the streets, underling that SP
A day after Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said all was well between his son Akhilesh Yadav and brother Shivpal Yadav, the chief minister’s supporters took to the streets, underling that SP’s power game was far from over.
Thousands of supporters of the CM created a revolt-like situation outside SP’s office in Lucknow on Saturday, demanding that the he must get back to leading the party in UP ahead of next year’s state elections.
They shouted slogans like “Chacha ko hatao, SP ko bachao” and flashed placards hailing the CM who has lost his job of SP’s state chief to his uncle. SP’s all four frontal youth wings also said that they would not work under Shivpal Yadav.
The protests took place when the CM met his uncle and extended full support. The feud between the two turned into an open war on Tuesday when the CM took away key portfolios from his uncle, hours after the patriarch replaced his son with Shivpal Yadav as SP’s state chief.
The CM had tea with his uncle on Saturday, and returned all portfolios — except the coveted public works department — to him.
Youth Brigade president Mohd. Aibad said, “The youth wings will not be able to work with anyone except Akhilesh. We’re feeling dejected after his removal. We want him back. The youth are ready to immolate themselves for Akhilesh”.
Rajpal Kashyap, Anand Bhadauria and Sunil Singh Sajan — all legislators in the upper house of UP Assembly — were seen raising slogans for the CM. “Akhileshji is the undisputed leader of the youth,” Mr Kashyap said.
As the feud threatens to derail SP’s prospects in next year’s state polls, Mulayam Singh Yadav rushed to the party office and reprimanded the protesters. “Do you know how much Shivpal has worked and sacrificed for the party He and I have built this party. Stop this tamasha immediately. Youth leaders must also remain in their limits”, he said.
The CM summoned the supporters to his residence and asked them to stop the protests.
While Akhilesh Yadav was made chief of the state parliamentary board with a say in ticket distribution, minister Gayatri Prajapati—sacked by him on corruption charges—may be sworn in on Sunday.
Disagreements between the CM and his uncle over issues like ticket distribution, appointment of officials and political alliances have often been reported, but this time they led to a full-blown war. Like in the past, the two again denied on Saturday that there was no rift in the party.
