MULAYAM SINGH REVOKES EXPULSION OF 2 AKHILESH AIDES

LUCKNOW: Yielding to sulking chief minister Akhilesh Yadav Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has revoked the expulsion of two of his close proteges, Sunil Singh Sajan and Anand Bhadauria, an official spokesperson said.

The two were booted out of the party last week following com plaints that they had opposed offi cial party candidates in the polls for zila panchayat chairmen.

The expulsion had stunned the party cadre as the two were considered the closest associates of the chief minister.

After the action was announced by PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav, the chief minister, for the first time skipped the Saifai Mahotsava baring in open the simmering differences between his father and him.

The sources said some family members, mainly the young lead ers, communicated to the chief minister that the two need to seek forgiveness from Mulayam Singh and then the SP chief would be cajoled into bringing them back into the party fold.

Following the plan, while Akhilesh went to the Saifa Mahotsava after six days of absence, Mulayam also turned ‘soft’ at the persuasion of senior leaders who said the incident was sending a wrong message to the people and the party rank and file, especially since the state assembly elections were just a year away.

Finally, Shivpal Singh Yadav announced the revoking of Sunil Singh Sajan and Anand Bhadauria’s expulsion late on Friday.