Mulayam, Shivpal skip SP manifesto release

The Samajwadi Party (SP) family continues to be sharply divided even though the polls are barely days away in the state.

SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was earlier this month ousted as party’s national president, and his younger brother Shivpal Singh Yadav, who was removed as state unit president, chose to skip the party’s election manifesto release function here on Sunday.

The election manifesto was released by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and newly anointed SP national president Akhilesh Yadav. Though there was prior information that Shivpal would not attend the release function, Akhilesh expected Mulayam to be present there and also release the manifesto.

A chair had been kept for Mulayam between Akhilesh and SP vice president Kironmoy Nanda. The function was slightly delayed as Mulayam did not turn up.

Akhilesh rushed senior SP leader and UP minister Azam Khan to persuade Mulayam to come to the function but failed to bring the sulking former SP supremo.

Incidentally, Mulayam reached the SP headquarters almost immediately after Akhilesh left for his official residence after releasing the manifesto.

“It would have been better had Netaji (Mulayam) released the manifesto...it would have boosted the morale of party workers...his absence gave a wrong message to the party’s rank and file,” remarked a senior SP leader, who was present at the function. Sources said that Mulayam was ‘very upset' with Akhilesh over denial of party nominations to a large number of his and Shivpal's loyalists.

His key aide Ambika Chaudhary had joined the BSP after denial of nomination.
Shivpal has also stopped attending party programmes and  confined himself to his Assembly constituency of Jaswant Nagar from where he was contesting the polls.