The Samjawadi Party family feud climaxed in a bitter power struggle on Friday as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav refused to lay down office after party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav expelled him and party general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav for six years from the party. With supports pouring in from all quarters — both from MlAs and cadres — Akhilesh seemed determined to trash the script prepared by his father to cut him to size ahead of the crucial Assembly polls.
There were indications that Akhilesh will not only try to prove his majority in the Assembly, but also he may move the Election Commission for freezing the ‘cycle’ election symbol of the party. The CM has called a formal meeting of his supporter MlAs at 9 am on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Governor Ram Naik told PTI, “I am keeping a watch on the issue.” Asked if he viewed the developments as crisis in the ruling party, Naik said, “It is an intra-party issue.”
The Governor’s role will become crucial if the SP chooses to replace Akhilesh as the Chief Minister.
Akhilesh camp has convened emergency “national delegates’ convention” here on January 1. The circular for the convention was issued by Ram Gopal. Akhilesh is likely to be elected as the national president of the party in the convention.
Mulayam has also called a meeting of all the 401 candidates for the Assembly elections on Saturday. SP sources said Mulayam has called the meeting of the candidates to ascertain whether they would remain loyal to him or they may defect to the Akhilesh camp.
Both Mulayam and Akhilesh camps have stepped up their efforts to capture the party. To counter the “emergency national convention” by the Akhilesh camp, the SP supremo has decided to dissolve the national executive council of the party. SP general secretary Amar Singh, on vacation in london, has been summoned to lucknow to supervise the fire fighting operation and to manage the crisis engulfing the party.
Mulayam expelled Ram Gopal from the party for act of indiscipline as he has convened the national convention of the party delegates here on January 1. He punished Akhilesh for siding with Ram Gopal.
“We will decide on the new Chief Minister of UP very soon after consulting the party leaders while the meeting of the party’s national executive would be convened soon to discuss over the political situation,” said the SP supremo at a hurriedly called Press conference. He added, “No one is bigger than the party and both have been punished for their acts of indiscipline to break the party.”
“Party is supreme and my priority is to protect the party and for this purpose I can go to any extent and prevent the split in the party. I appeal to all the party leaders, MlAs, MPs and other leaders to stay away from the delegate convention organised by Ram Gopal. This convention is unauthorised and unconstitutional. You all should protect the party otherwise the party will be ruined,” said Mulayam.
Meanwhile, Ram Gopal dismissed the expulsion, saying “such action by the president to expel him and the CM is an act of desperation as the party leaders are with them”.
On emergency “national delegate convention” without consulting the party president, Ram Gopal said, “Deep resentment prevails among the rank and file of the party over the present state of affairs in the party and in such a situation there is no need of taking permission from the president.”
“Why they are afraid of facing the delegate meet. It shows that they have accepted their defeat,” he claimed.
Earlier, the party had rejected the delegate meet and had served show cause notices to both Akhilesh and Ram Gopal. Criticising the Chief Minister for releasing parallel list of 235 party candidates on Thursday, Mulayam said, “the party had already released list of 325 candidates on Wednesday then how can the Chief Minister release yet another list at the late hours of Thursday.”
“It was never my intention to take action against anybody. I have expelled them only for six years, I will consider further tough action against them in future,” said the SP chief.
Accusing Ram Gopal Yadav of working to destroy the party, the SP chief said, “Ram Gopal Yadav has ruined the future of Akhilesh and he is so naive that he cannot see through the game of Ram Gopal”.
In the notice issue to Ram Gopal, the SP supremo said, “You are aware that only the national president has the authority to convene the national convention. How can you organise the convention with the notice of just one day you need at least 15 days notice or at least 10 days otherwise how can the delegates from different States of south and east India and North-East Indian states can reach lucknow within 24-hour notice’’.
“What authority Ram Gopal Yadav has to convene the convention of the national delegates of the party. Did he consult me, was this issue discussed in the meeting of the national executive or the parliamentary board of the party. Only the national president of the party has the authority to convene the convention of the national delegates of the party’,” said Mulayam, adding “by issuing the circular for national convention Ram Gopal has not only committed a serious act of indiscipline he has also inflicted serious damage to the party’’.
Questioning the authority of Ram Gopal to convene the national convention, Mulayam said, “Who are the delegatesIJ has Ram Gopal released the list of the list of the delegatesIJ Shivpal Yadav is also a delegate but he has no information of any such convention.” He added, “Without the approval of 40 per cent of the delegates such convention cannot be convened.”
Reiterating his charge that Ram Gopal is using Akhilesh as a pawn in his power game, the SP chief said, “Ignoring Opposition from all quarters I chose Akhilesh for the post of the Chief Minister. Can you find any such precedent in the history where a leader installed his son as Chief MinisterIJ Even the Congress never did this kind of thing in last 70 years.”
“I could have become the Chief Minister. My health is fine. I still meet more people and tour the State and other parts of the country,” said Mulayam, adding “Ram Gopal Yadav has destroyed the future of Akhilesh and he is unable to understand this.”