In a show of unity and bonhomie in the first family of the Samajwadi Party, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday touched the feet of his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav during the campaigning for the Mainpuri Lok Sabha bypoll.
Akhilesh asserted that there was never a strain in his relationship with his uncle.
Reciprocating the gesture of his nephew, Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) chief Shivpal that the family was united to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party. He added that the Manipuri bypoll was a high stake contest.
Addressing an election rally in the family bastion Saifai, Akhilesh asserted that his party would register a historic win in the bypoll.
Dimple Yadav, the wife of Akhilesh , is the SP candidate from the seat, which was represented by SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav.
“The bypolls are taking place at a time when 'Netaji' (Mulayam Singh Yadav) is not among us. The entire country is watching this election, and I can say that the entire country will see how the Samajwadi Party registers a historic win," Akhilesh said.
After remaining at loggerheads since 2017, Akhilesh and his uncle had decided to patch up before the 2022 UP assembly polls. Both had put up a united front at the behest of Mulayam. However, cracks appeared again after the polls and they parted company.
“At times people say that there is 'dooriyan' (distance). There was no 'dooriyan' between 'chacha' (uncle) and 'bhatija' (nephew). 'Dooriyan' was there in politics. I had never considered any 'dooriyan' between the uncle and the nephew. And, I am happy that today the 'dooriyan' in politics has also ended," Akhilesh said to a rousing applause from the public.