JOIN USTussle in SP turns ugly, warring camps plan to move EC
The ongoing tussle in the Samajwadi Party (SP) turned ugly after Chief Minister Akhilesh’s anointment as national president of the party, replacing his father and party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav.
During the emergency national convention on Sunday held by party general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav – who was later in the day expelled by Mulayam – Akhilesh’s uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav was also sacked as state party unit president.
According to sources, both the camps are now contemplating moving the Election Commission (EC) to stake claim over ‘cycle’, the party symbol.
In the state capital, AkhileshYadav’s supporters forced their way into the party headquarters throwing out Shivpal loyalists and taking control of the building. Shivpal’s name plate was also thrown out of his cabin.
Shivpal loyalists charged that Akhilesh had used the police to help his supporters enter the party office and capture it.
Leaders expelled
In addition to Ram Gopal, on Mulayam also expelled party vice president Kironmoy Nanda, and senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Agarwal for attending the emergency convention.
Nanda and Agarwal decried their expulsions and said Mulayam had been “mentally captured” by some people.
“It seems Mulayam is controlled by others. He has been mentally captured,” Agarwal told a news agency.
Nanda said Mulayam had no authority to expel him.
Ram Gopal said the resolutions adopted at Sunday’s convention would be sent to the EC for necessary action.
Akhilesh, during the convention, appointed the party’s MLC Naresh Chandra Uttam as the state unit president of the party.
Uttam, a Kurmi by caste, hails from Fatehpur district and is considered to be close to the chief minister.