Day before EC test, Mulayam says he is still SP president

Akhilesh faction real SP: Ram Gopal

THE FAMILY feud in Samajwadi Party showed signs of further escalation Sunday with Mulayam Singh Yadav asserting that he remainsthenationalchiefofspand dubbing as illegal the convention called by Ram Gopal Yadav in which UP CM Akhilesh Yadav replaced Mulayam as party chief.

On the other hand, speaking toabpnews,ramgopalasserted that the faction headed by Akhilesh is the real party.

“Iamthenationalpresidentof Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav is (only) the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Shivpal Yadav is still the president of Samajwadi Party’s Uttar Pradesh unit,” Mulayam told reporters. ‘’Ram Gopal Yadav was expelled from the party for six years on December 30, 2016. Therefore the party’s national convention called by him on January1,2017,wasfarzi(illegal).”

Ram Gopal, meanwhile, told ABP News, “Almost 90 per cent members of the party’s general bodyand85to90percentofpublic representatives (MLAS and MPS) are with Akhilesh Yadav. On thebasisofoverwhelmingmajority,primafacie,itisakhileshyadav whohastherightoversamajwadi Party. Hence I requested the Election Commission to give the cycle symbol to Akhilesh Yadav and acceptthepartyheadedbyhimas the real SP.”

Healsorejectedtheargument that since he was expelled before the convention, the convention called by him is illegal. “He (Mulayam)gavemetheexpulsion notice,sayingthattheconvention that I have called is illegal... when I called the convention, I was the general secretary. I was expelled after that notice,” he said.

“There is no fight between father and son. Akhilesh has accepted all decisions of his father,” he said. He added that the decision taken at the convention was requiredtosavesamajwadiparty.

Asked about the condition on whichacompromisecanhappen, he said, “Netaji should withdraw hisapplicationfromtheec,accept Akhileshyadavaspartypresident. We promise that after elections, Netaji will be given full command of the party in May when election for party president is due.”

Hesaidthatsomepeoplewho have “zero” public standing and cannot win an election from anywhereare“misleading”mulayam.

Asked whether Amar Singh and Shivpal can be accommodated in Akhilesh’s team if a compromise is reached, Ram Gopal said “there is no question” of accommodating Amar Singh and a decision on Shivpal can be taken only after the elections.

Amar Singh. on his part, soughttoblameakhileshwithout naming him. “Is Ghar ko aag lag gayi ghar ke chirag se,” he said. “If anybody made me, it is Mulayam Singh Yadav. I cannot desert him... I am ready to resign. Shivpal is readynottocontestpolls.whythe arrogance?” he said.

Shivpal said he will remain with Mulayam in every situation and accept whatever he decides.