Ghar Wapsi For Akhilesh, Ram Gopal As Mulayam Makes a U-Turn
On Saturday morning, Akhilesh and Mulayam will hold two separate meetings of Samajwadi Party leaders.
- SP to hold its one-day national convention on Sunday
- Shivpal Yadav says the party will fight unitedly and win the polls
- Akhilesh and Ram Gopal Yadav were re-inducted into the party
- Over 200 of the 229 party MLAs support Akhilesh Yadav
- West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee phoned Akhilesh to extend her support
- On Friday, Mulayam had expelled Akhilesh and Ram Gopal Yadav for six years over alleged indiscipline
Akhilesh, Ram Gopal Yadav Return To SP
A day after Akhilesh Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav were expelled from the Samajwadi Party for six years by party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, they have been re-inducted into the SP fold.
Shivpal Yadav announced this on Twitter:
Shivpal said the expulsion of the two leaders was revoked by the party patriarch and that both Mulayam and Akhilesh “will sit together to make a list of candidates”. He further said that the party will fight unitedly and win the upcoming polls.
Commenting on the reconciliation, Amar Singh said that Mulayam Yadav has again kept his “promise” of not letting his family or party split.
“Netaji Is the Baghban of the Samajwadi Party”
Senior leader Azam Khan said that the two leaders’ expulsion was a “big news and that could have given rise to a very big problem”.
Speaking about Akhilesh and Mulayam’s relationship, Khan said, “What problem can a father have with his son? Only that he should meet him and consider his advice which is for his own well-being.”
Meeting At Mulayam’s Residence
Akhilesh Yadav went to meet Mulayam Singh Yadav's at his residence with state Urban Development Minister Azam Khan and SP leader Abu Azmi. He left his meeting with the MLAs mid-way to meet his father.
Shivpal Singh Yadav was also present at Mulayam’s house.
According to informed sources, this move is being seen as a last-minute bid to save the party from an imminent split ahead of the 2017 Assembly elections.
The patch-up bid was brokered by Azam Khan, who is close to the father-son duo.
Clearly unhappy with Akhilesh, Mulayam reportedly told Azam to urge Akhilesh to fall in line and not breach party discipline as it would do him no good.
Akhilesh, during his meeting with the MLAs earlier on Saturday, said that he respects Mulayam and that the party belongs to the SP supremo.
Akhilesh Supporters Hold ‘Havan’ Outside Residence
Akhilesh Yadav’s supporters held a 'havan' outside his residence in his support.
Akhilesh Yadav’s supporters also clashed with Mulayam-Shivpal Yadav supporters outside the party office in Lucknow.
Majority of MLAs Attend Akhilesh’s Meeting
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and expelled SP General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav reached the former’s residence at 5, Kalidas Marg for a meeting with the MLAs.
Though the exact number of those present at the meeting was not immediately known, insiders maintained that a majority of the 229 SP MLAs were present. Besides, some SP MLCs and senior party functionaries loyal to Akhilesh were also at the meeting.
Akhilesh is expected to meet his supporters and party workers later in the day.
Akhilesh’s close aide and MLA Pawan Pandey, while speaking to the media before the meeting, said that the “entire state stands with the CM”.
Controversial SP leader Atique Ahmed said that if the feud within the party is because of him, he is ready to back out. He also said, “Our CM is Akhilesh but Netaji (Mulayam) is our leader.”
According to ANI, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called up Akhilesh to wish him well and asked him to stay strong.
Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav spoke to Mulayam Singh and asked him to stay united to fight communal forces.
Amar Singh Asks Party Workers to Support Mulayam
Senior SP leader Amar Singh called the party crisis “unfortunate”. He extended his “complete” support to Mulayam Singh and appealed to other party workers to do the same.
Alluding to an old saying, Amar Singh said the fracas within the Samajwadi Party is a marker of Kalyug (bad times) where the son rules while the father suffers.
SP Spokesperson Resigns
SP spokesperson Juhi Singh, an Akhilesh loyalist, resigned from her post on Saturday following the CM’s expulsion.
She said: “When my Chief Minister is suspended, it’s my responsibility to resign as the spokesperson too. We stand with our CM.”
Show of Strength at Akhilesh, Mulayam Meets
According to sources, both Akhilesh and Mulayam called for separate meetings of SP leaders on Saturday morning in an expected show of strength.
Mulayam had called for a parliamentary board meeting and was expected to meet all 393 candidates SP has 'officially' declared for the UP polls on Saturday.
Since most of these names figure in Akhilesh’s parallel list as well, it remains to be seen whether the attendees are higher for the father or the son.
Meanwhile, state police chief Javeed Ahmed met Akhilesh Yadav and was asked to ensure security at Mulayam’s residence.
Minutes after the expulsion on Friday evening, hundreds of Akhilesh supporters, waving banners and posters with pictures of the chief minister gathered outside his 5, Kalidas Marg residence to show their support to him. They accused the party chief of doing “injustice”.
The Big Divide in SP
The ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh was divided on Friday between party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who was expelled from the party following a rift over the selection of candidates ahead of crucial assembly elections due early next year.
Also expelled for alleged anti-party activities was Akhilesh-backer and party General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav, who had earlier in the day called a national convention of the Samajwadi Party on Sunday after Mulayam finalised his list of candidates for the polls expected to be announced next week.
Also Read: SP Split Ahead As Mulayam Expels Akhilesh, Ram Gopal For 6 Years
The Akhilesh faction with Ram Gopal Yadav's support had come up with a separate list of candidates, sparking crisis in the Yadav family and the party as its five-year rule in the state draws to a close.
Further, the SP chief said Akhilesh Yadav is no longer the Chief Minister – and the party would decide who would succeed his son.
(With PTI, ANI and IANS inputs.)
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