Akhilesh cautions workers against 'fake Samajwadis'

Samajwadi Party (SP) president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday virtually termed his detractors within the family and party as “fake” socialists and asked his supporters to beware of them. Addressing an election meeting at Hapur, about 400 km from here, Akhilesh said the party workers must discern who the real ‘socialists’ were.

“You (party workers) must identify the fake samajwadis and beware of them,” the chief minister said in a veiled reference to those opposed to him inside the SP and the ‘Yadav’ family. He also asked the SP workers to ensure that these “fake” socialists do not win the polls; otherwise they might approach him afterwards and he might have to “forgive” them.

The chief minister was apparently referring to the supporters of SP state unit’s former president and his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav, who had turned rebels after being denied party nominations. Many of Shivpal supporters, including former UP ministers, have joined rival outfits and entered the poll fray, some as independents. Shivpal has also declared that he will campaign in support of his “rebel” supporters even if they were contesting against SP official nominees.

Akhilesh’s remarks came a day after Shivpal, who had been completely isolated in the party and kept away from campaigning, announced that he would form a new outfit after the Assembly poll results were declared on March 11.

The chief minister had also said that those who were conspiring against the party would not be allowed to remain in the party, triggering speculation that he might act against his estranged uncle again.