It was an unusual day for the rank and file of the Samajwadi party in lucknow on Friday. Many of them had come from neighboring district to demonstrate their loyalty to the leaders. Earlier they had to shout ` Zindabad’ only for either Mulayam Singh Yadav or later Akhilesh Yadav. Third name was added today—Shivpal Yadav. A day earlier he had resigned from the posts in government and the party.
From the morning at 7 am supports of Shivpal Yadav started assembling in front of his private residence on Vikramaditya marg in lucknow. State office of the Samajwadi Party also located on Vikramaditya marg is close to 100 meters away. Official residence of the chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Kalidas marg and official residence of the Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav allotted to him in his capacity as former chief minister of UP is also within few hundred yards away from the residence of Shivpal Yadav.
The enthusiastic supporters wearing the T shirts with photo of Shivpal Yadav raise the usual stock in trade slogan ``Tum Sangharsh Karo Hum Tumhare Sath hai’. As the number swells the pitch gets louder. Suddenly a leader appears from inside the bungalow and whispers something in his ears. The slogan changes `` Netaji Tum Gaddi Sambhalo, Ram Gopal Ko Bahar Nikalo.
Few minutes past 9 am Shivpal Yadav comes out and asks his supporters to shift to the party office and tell their grievance to the party chief Mulauam Singh Yadav who will soon be coming there.
At 10 am shivpal Yadav along with his son Aditya Yadav proceeds to the residence of Mulayam Singh Yadav. He is closeted with his elder brother and party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. MUlayam Singh gives him the resignation letter from the post of the state president he had given on Thursday. Shivpal Yadav takes leave of the party boss.
Within half hour chief minister Akhilesh Yadav arrives from his Kalidas Marg residence, where he stays during the day hours. MUlayam Singh and his son hold one to one talk for over half hour and leaves for a programme organized in a local hotel by a TV channel..
At I pm Mulayam Singh Yadav arrives in the party office and heads straight to the auditorium in state office of the party. Mulayam declares that there is no rift in the party even as the supporters of the chief ministerAkhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav raise loud slogans hailing their respective leaders. Mulayam Singh asks them to maintain order but in vain. The word goes round that the dispute within the first family of the ruling party has been amicably settled and the warring factions of Chacha and Bhatijaa have agreed to abide by the the decision of Netaji.