Even as Samajwadi Party’s first family continue to reel under constentious conflicts, party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav delivered a stern message to his son and Chief Minister Akhiesh Yadav that Shivpal Yadav, Amar Singh and Ansari brothers were dear to him.
“I can’t leave Amar Singh and Shivpal. All of Amar Singh’s sins are forgiven. He is like my my brother,’’ asserted Mulayam, a remark aimed at his son Akhilesh, who has been bitterly opposing Singh’s reinduction in SP in June.
Praising the Ansari brothers of Qaumi Ekta Dal , Mulayam Singh said, “Ansaris are a respectable family. His grandfather was a freedom fighter and actively participated in the freedom movement. One of the family members is the Vice President of India.”
Mulayam also stressed that he is the boss and the party will run as per his agenda—thereby conveying that the CM will have to work on his terms. “Will you be able to form the government on your own “ the SP patriarch dared Akhilesh.
Rebuking the CM, Mulayam said,``Power has gone to your head after becoming CM. You are now patronising bootleggers and gamblers. Shivpal is your uncle and you must hug him. Shivpal has nursed the party with his blood and sweat. You have no idea of the party’s making party and hardships faced by me and Shivpal during days of our struggle.’’
``Shivpal’s contribution can never be forgotten. He is a man of the masses. He represents common people. I cannot hear a word against Shivpal and Amar Singh,’’ declared Mulayam Singh.
lashing out at Akhilesh for his vehement opposition to Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh, the SP chief said,`` You abuse Amar Singh. Do you know about what he has done for meIJ Had he not helped me, I would have faced conviction and gone to jail. You are not worth the dust of his feet (tum Amar Singh ke pair kee dhul bhee nahi ho).”
Addressing a crucial meeting of past and present MlAs and MlCs in lucknow on Monday, Mulayam Singh said that he was saddened by the intra-party rift as he worked hard facing lathis and jail term for the party.
Without naming the CM, Mulayam said, ``One cannot be a leader if he cannot stand criticism. For becoming a great leader, you have to have a wide vision.”
However Mulayam’s tongue lashing included the assertion that Akhilesh will not be removed as CM, while his younger brother Shivpal would run the party.
Known as Akhilesh baiter and a proponent of Mulayam Singh taking over as CM, Shivpal Yadav was sacked from the cabinet by his nephew on Sunday. With the exercise, Akhilesh signalled that he will not mind leaving the party headed by his father but has not gone on record and remained dismissive on the score.