In a latest development in the feud-ridden Samajwadi Party, its national chief and former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav sacked five party members who are considered close to his uncle Shivpal Yadav.
The expelled members include former party general secretary Deepak Mishra, ex-party spokesperson Mohammad Shahid, Rajesh Yadav, Ramesh Yadav and Kallu Yadav.
The expulsion comes just three days after Shivpal Yadav announced his intention to launch a new political party – Samajwadi Party Secular Morcha – on Friday to be led by Akhilesh’s father Mulayam Singh.
The protracted conflict between Akhilesh Yadav on one hand, and Shivpal Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav on the other, has been going on since last year, when Akhilesh replaced his father Mulayam as the national president of the party in December 2016.
The party suffered a huge setback in the recently held UP Assembly polls, managing to win only 47 seats and giving power away to the BJP. Notably, Shivpal held his nephew Akhilesh responsible for the debacle.
On Sunday, party patriarch Mulayam Singh expressed regret over giving Akhilesh Yadav the Chief Ministership of the state in 2012.
(Source: NDTV, Times of India)
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