SP split wide open after day of tit-for-tat sackings
GLOVES ARE OFF Akhilesh sacks Shivpal from Cabinet, Mulayam expels CM loyalist Ramgopal from the party MAKE-OR-BREAK MEETING TODAY
LUCKNOW: A split in the ruling Samajwadi Party looked inevitable after a fresh round of titfor-tat sackings on Sunday pitted chief minister Akhilesh Yadav against his father and party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.
In the morning, Akhilesh threw out his uncle Shivpal Yadav, who is also the party’s state chief, and three other “proAmar Singh” ministers from his team. By evening, Mulayam had dismissed his cousin and SP general secretary Ramgopal Yadav, who has backed Akhilesh in the family feud, from the party for six years.
“Main Netaji ka uttradhikari hoon (I am Netaji’s successor). If anyone comes between the father-son relationships, I will not tolerate it,” Akhilesh told party legislators, the first time he has openly staked claim to Mulayam’s legacy.
The sackings indicate hardening of stand on both sides and couldn’t have come at a worse time. A resurgent opposition, anti-incumbency and worries over law and order situation – the party already had a battle on its hands. A power struggle in the Yadav clan was the last thing it needed.
Questions were also being raised about the state government, with the BJP, which is looking to topple the SP in the next year’s election, calling for a floor test.
If things come to a head, Mulayam, who is said to be angry and called an emergency meeting of senior party leaders in the evening, could name himself or Shivpal as the chief minister, sources said.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 Main Netaji ka uttradhikari hoon (I am Netaji’s successor). If anyone comes between the fatherson relationship, I will not tolerate it — Akhilesh Yadav
Ramgopal is involved with the BJP, he met BJP leaders thrice in the last few days...
Ramgopal is doing this (sending letter) to save his son in the
Yadav Singh scam and the
CM (is) not realising as to who his real well-wisher is. He (Ramgopal) has always conspired and misled Akhilesh.
— Shivpal Yadav
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