Akhilesh asks supporters to end protest
A day after declaring that he would return portfolios to his uncle but should have a say in ticket distribution, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday congratulated Shivpal on his appointment as SP’s state president.
Akhilesh visited Shivpal’s residence and stayed there for 45 minutes. Later, he asked his supporters to end the agitation. “I want to congratulate the new state president (Shivpal Singh Yadav). All of you have worked together and will have to continue working hand in hand,” the chief minister said while addressing supporters at his 5, Kalidas Marg residence. “Youths will decide the direction of the new government,” he said and asked his supporters not to resign from any party or government post.
“All of you want the SP to form the next government. Many parties are conspiring against us. So, there should be no more agitations. I have promised to abide by Netaji’s decision and have accepted it. All of you should also do so,” Akhilesh said. “Netaji has appointed me the national president of Samajwadi Party’s youth wings – the Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha, Lohia Vahini, Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha and Mulayam Singh Yadav Youth Brigade. I am not too old even now. I will continue to get opportunity to work with you,” Yadav said. CURB ON SP STATE SPOKESPERSON, LIKELY TO BE REPLACED
Newly appointed Samajwadi Party (SP) state president Shivpal Yadav is likely to assume charge on Sunday and thereafter he is expected to begin making major changes in the state organisational setup.
Already, the state spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary has been restrained from issuing statements on behalf of the state unit. He is likely to be replaced by seasoned politician Ambika Chaudhary. Arvind Singh ‘Gope’, another trusted lieutenant of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, is all set to lose the state general secretary’s post, party sources say.