JOIN US It took a humiliating defeat in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections for SP president Akhilesh Yadav to call for a truce with his uncle and former party state president Shivpal Singh Yadav.
The warring uncle and nephew were seen together after a gap of over 100 days at the meeting of the newly elected party legislators here on Thursday. Akhilesh and Shivpal had last shared the stage during the inauguration of the Lucknow Metro’s trial run on December 1.
According to party sources, the two leaders held closed-door talks before attending the MLAs’ meeting. According to sources, SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav had asked Akhilesh and Shivpal to be present at the legislators’ meeting. “Shivpal agreed to participate in the meeting after Mulayam’s prodding,” a senior party leader said.
Shivpal had squarely blamed Akhilesh for the party’s humiliating defeat. Sources said Akhilesh might hand over the presidentship of the party to Mulayam and also agree to appoint Shivpal as the state unit chief. “The party may witness large-scale reshuffling at the party’s national executive meet on March 25,” the leader said.