Akhilesh flexes muscles, hints Shivpal won't be reinstated

In a show of strength amid the raging family ‘feud’, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday claimed to have the support of a majority of party legislators, discounting apprehensions of a ‘Constitutional crisis’ in Uttar Pradesh.

The chief minister also hinted that he was not going to reinstate the sacked ministers of the Samajwadi Party (SP), including his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav.

Akhilesh, who chaired a meeting of the members of his team to discuss the preparations of his ‘rathyatra’ beginning November 3, also met Governor Ram Naik, setting political tongues wagging.

According to sources, Akhilesh assured the governor that he had the support of the majority in the 225-member Assembly and that there was no Constitutional crisis in the state.

Although the chief minister did not furnish any list of the supporting MLAs, party sources said he claimed to have the backing of 205 SP legislators, which was more than what was required for the majority.

Sources close to Akhilesh said the governor appeared to be “convinced” that there was no crisis in the state.

Sources also said that the show of strength was aimed at driving home the message to both the Opposition as well as the ruling SP leadership that the chief minister enjoyed the support of the MLAs and ministers.

A visibly relaxed Akhilesh asked the youth wing leaders not to “waste any more time” and take a “plunge into the forthcoming electoral battle”.

“We need to reach out to the people in all corners of the state with the achievements of the government over the past four and half years,” he told his supporters, who had assembled at his official residence here.

Incidentally, those who were present at the meeting included several youth wing leaders, who had been expelled by Shivpal soon after he took charge of the state party unit.

Akhilesh also hinted that he was in no mood to reinstate the four sacked ministers.