Akhilesh seizes SP reins, sacks his uncle Shivpal
TWIST IN TALE Hours later, Mulayam declares it illegal, will take Samajwadi Party battle to Election Commission today
LUCKNOW: The Samajwadi Party’s power struggle took another dramatic turn on the New Year’s Day, as chief minister Akhilesh Yadav staged a coup by getting elected the party chief, ousting his father Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Akhilesh, whose show of strength on Saturday had forced Mulayam to take back his expulsion, dealt a double blow to his 77-year-old father.
At the “extraordinary national convention” called by Akhilesh’s faction, a decision was also taken to sack Shivpal Yadav as the state party chief and throw parliamentarian Amar Singh out of SP. The two leaders are considered the CM’s top adversaries and are close to Mulayam.
“Sometimes to protect the ones u love u must make right decision. What I did today was a tough decision but 1 tht I had to take,” the 43-year-old CM tweeted late on Sunday, referring to his move to snatch party control.
The convention was attended by more than 200 of SP’s 229 legislators, ministers and tens of thousands of workers. The power shift was for all to see — several leaders considered close 5.10pm: 5.20pm: 9pm: 11.38 pm: 11.15am: 12.10pm:
12.15pm: Azam takes Akhilesh to Mulayam’s residence for meeting 12.18pm: Akhilesh, Ramgopal’s expulsion revoked Akhilesh hits out at detractors in SP, says there’s a conspiracy against Netaji, party
How senior Samajwadi leaders deserted Mulayam to attend convention
to Mulayam were at the meeting.
Akhilesh named a loyalist, Naresh Uttam, as Shivpal’s replacement. The 55-year-old member of the legislature council was Akhilesh’s deputy when he was the state party chief.
But the bruising battle for 11.31am: 12.39 pm: 2pm:
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control of the party ahead of the state election due in coming months appeared far from over. Hours later, Mulayam declared the meeting illegal and called a separate national convention on January 5.
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