JOIN USMulayam claims party, family are united
The feud within the first family of the Samajwadi Party (SP) continues to remain unresolved, though party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav said on Tuesday that the family and party are united.
Mulayam, who addressed a press conference here on Tuesday, again indicated that Akhilesh might not be the party’s automatic choice for the post of chief minister in case the SP forms the next government.
The SP supremo, however, said that the party as well as the family were united. A visibly uncomfortable Mulayam was flanked by Shivpal and three other sacked ministers, but Akhilesh was conspicuous by his absence. Mulayam also failed to explain Akhilesh’s absence despite persistent queries.
“Ours is a democratic party...the next CM will be decided by the MLAs after the polls if SP wins,” Mulayam said, adding that for now, Akhilesh would remain chief minister.
In a reply to a query, Mulayam said that he was not interested in becoming the chief minister for a few months. “In all probability, the model code of conduct will come into force in December and after that the government will not be able to take any important decisions,” he added.
On the possible return of the four sacked ministers, including Shivpal, into the Cabinet, he said that it was up to the chief minister to take a decision in this regard. “This question should be put before the CM...he must be watching this press conference,” Mulayam added.
The SP supremo also made it clear once again that he would not take any action against SP Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh.
In reply to another question, Mulayam said that he no longer gave credence to the remarks of the expelled party general secretary and his cousin Ram Gopal Yadav, who had earned his wrath after writing an open letter to the SP workers asking them to rally around Akhilesh.
Dynasty feud spills on to streets
The ongoing feud within the Samajwadi Party (SP) spilled on to the streets on Tuesday, DHNS reports from Lucknow.
Angry supporters of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav virtually held party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav hostage inside the party office here for a few hours in protest against his refusal to declare Akhilesh as the SP’s face in the upcoming Assembly polls.
Hundreds of Akhilesh’s supporters, mostly youths, had gathered in front of the SP office on hearing the news that Mulayam would be addressing a press conference. They raised pro-Akhilesh slogans outside while Mulayam spoke to the media inside.
The supporters started shouting slogans against state unit president Shivpal Singh Yadav and Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh, when they came to know that Mulayam said that the next chief minister would be decided by the newly elected MLAs in case the SP formed the next government.
The angry supporters laid siege to the SP office, as a result of which Mulayam was unable to leave the venue. His security personnel made two attempts to bring him out of the party office, but did not succeed. Many of them even climbed on to the trees to draw attention of the SP office bearers.
“We want Netaji (Mulayam) to listen to us...He must declare Akhilesh as the party’s face in the next polls,” said Anurag Yadav, who had come from Etawah. According to the sources, the supporters relented only after an emissary of Akhilesh arrived at the SP office and asked them to disperse and allow Mulayam to go home.
Similarly, a large number of supporters of Shivpal also gathered at his official residence here and shouted slogans against Akhilesh.
Security was tightened around the official residences of Mulayam, Shivpal and Akhilesh, while security personnel in strength was also deployed at the SP office.