PNIB NEWS INDIA:
LUCKNOW BUREAU REPORT
The Ruling party in U.P. Samajwadi Party headed by Mulayam
Singh Yadev, now facing the family and party crisis, now Mulayam is very much
kathor with his son Akhilesh Yadev, C.M. of U.P. His brother Shivpal has
created dramatic political Confusion with the help of Amar Singh (Just
re-joined Leader of SP.)
Addressing a press conference in the state capital Lucknow,
with his brother Shivpal Yadav seated next to him, the SP patriarch said, ''All
my life I have worked for the welfare of the party and fought for equality.''
My party is united, my family is united, there is no feud
whatsoever. We are together as ever, he said. Interestingly, Mulayam's son and
UP Chief Minister was not present during the press briefing.
The SP chief also refused to answer several key questions
regarding a much-talked about 'compromise formula' to iron out differences
between Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal.
Yes, its true that the majority was in my name in 2012, we
still made Akhilesh CM. Now it's up to him to carry out his responsibilities,
he said.
I have left the decision to reinstate Shivpal and four
others back in the government to Akhilesh, who is and will remain the chief
minister of the state.
The SP veteran also categorically said that his brother
Shivpal Yadav had neither requested him to reinstate back into the government
nor the three sacked ministers or expelling any leader from key position in the
organisation.
I leave all this to Akhilesh, he added.
To a question whether Akhilesh will be Samajwadi Party's
Chief Ministerial candidate in 2017 assembly polls, he refused to give a direct
reply.
This will be decided by our party legislatures if we win in
2017 polls since we are a democratic party, he said.
The SP patriarch also categorically said that Amar Singh
will not be sacked or expelled from the party as he has been with him in the
difficult times.
Why bring Amar Singh into everything, Mulayam Singh asked.
To a question relating to his cousin Ram Gopal Yadav, who
has backed Akhilesh, Mulayam said, “I don't pay much heed to what he says.''
However, there are still several unanswered questions as to
who control the reins of the party, who is more important in the party –
Akhilesh or Shivpal – and what is the future of Mulayam's brother Ram Gopal
Yadav, who has been expelled from the party.
Mulayam's remarks came a day after the power tussle between
UP's young chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and his estranged uncle and state
party chief Shivpal Yadav
worsened with their
supporters trading blows and exposing the diminished authority of party
patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav.
A meeting of SP legislators and chiefs of district and block
units called by Mulayam on Monday brought out the depth of the power feud and
the determination of the protagonists not to relent, confirming fears that the
party could be teetering on the brink of a split just ahead of the looming
state polls.
About party chief ministerial candidate for 2017, Malayam
said, "Ours is a democratic party. First let us get majority and then
elected representatives will select their CM. Presently, Akhilesh is CM, does
anyone have any problem?"
Earlier on Tuesday, Shivpal said all was well in theparty, a
day after high drama at a key meeting of the ruling party.
He visited Mulayam's residence and was soon joined by the
chief minister.
"All is well in the party and the Mulayam family. I am
with 'netaji' (Mulayam). We will abide by whatever directive is given by
him," he said.
Shivpal was answering questions from media persons at the SP
headquarters here which had witnessed high drama and ugly scenes with Shivpal
calling his nephew Akhilesh a "liar" and even snatching the mike from
him on Monday.
Shivpal on Tuesday drove to the residence of Mulayam to see
the SP supremo who is suffering from severe toothache.
Outside the state SP headquarters, tension once again ran
high with followers of Shivpal and Akhilesh raising slogans in favour of their
respective leaders.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN SATHI
BUREAU CHIEF,
PNIB NEWS INDIA.