Even as the Samajwadi Party’s first family continues to reel under contentious conflicts, party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav delivered a stern message to his son and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav that State SP chief Shivpal Yadav, Amar Singh and Ansari brothers were dear to him, while an emotional Akhilesh offered to resign from his post.
Addressing a crucial meeting of MlAs and MlCs in lucknow on Monday, Mulayam said that he was saddened by the intra-party rift as he worked hard, facing batons and jail term for the party.
Rebuking Akhilesh, 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 embrace him. Shivpal has nursed the party with his blood and sweat. You have no idea of the hardships faced by me and Shivpal while setting up the party.”
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 what he has done for meIJ Had he not helped me, I would have faced conviction and gone to jail. Tum Amar Singh ke pair kee dhul bhee nahi ho (You are not equal to the dust of his feet).”
“I can’t leave Amar Singh and Shivpal. All of Amar Singh’s sins are forgiven. He is like my brother,’’ asserted Mulayam.
Praising the Ansari brothers of Qaumi Ekta Dal, Mulayam 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.”
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.
Meanwhile, amid the escalating feud, Akhilesh offered to resign from his post while addressing the meeting of legislators.
Defending his decision to sack four Ministers, including Shivpal on Sunday, he said they were creating a dispute within the party. Shockingly, at the meeting, Akhilesh and Shivpal also traded charges.
Akhilesh tried to dismiss the perception that he was planning to float a new political party. “Why should I form a new partyIJ This is also my responsibility,” he said. However, this was later contradicted by Shivpal who said that Akhilesh had told him about his plans to form a new party.
Referring to his father Mulayam Singh, an emotional Akhilesh said, “You took me to these heights... Where do I go from hereIJ Had you told me to resign, I would have done so. Netaji is my guru and if he wants to remove me, then I am ready to quit.”
Alleging a conspiracy by some to create a rift in the SP, Akhilesh said, “Netaji, you taught me to oppose injustice. If anyone is engaged in conspiring against Netaji or the party, then I would initiate action (referring to the sacking of four Ministers recently),” he said.
Defending his uncle and expelled Rajya Sabha MP Ram Gopal Yadav, Akhilesh said, “My action against the Ministers was mine and not on his suggestions. They were creating disturbances and hence were shunted out.”
In his address after the CM, Shivpal Yadav spoke in an unusually loud tone and declared that the party would contest the Assembly polls under the leadership of Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Attacking Akhilesh, Shivpal said, “I swear to you all, Akhilesh had told me that he was going to form a party and would contest elections in alliance with other parties.”
Defending Amar Singh, he said, “Singh’s contribution to the party has been immense and he was not involved in any conspiracy or anti-party activity.”
“People working to weaken the SP should know that we will form the next Government pursuing Netaji’s ideology. But we cannot tolerate liars in SP, we just can’t. Indiscipline will not be tolerated. Netaji has taken the SP to a certain height and anyone insulting him would not be spared,” he remarked hitting out at Ram Gopal Yadav.
Attacking the CM and Ram Gopal further, Shivpal said, “Who was responsible for breaking of alliance with Qaumi Ekta Dal and Mahagathbandhan in Bihar.”
Claiming that he has no dispute with Akhilesh, he said, “I was upset when the CM took my departments but even after the insults I never dismissed the CM’s directives. When I was removed from the State chief’s post by Netaji, I never objected or said a word. But when I was given that post Akhilesh became hostile towards me.”
“During my tenure as Minister, even Opposition leaders lauded me. No party MlA has any grievance about my conduct. Did I make no contribution to the GovernmentIJ Akhilesh never reviewed departments under him. But I did this regularly and also acted against erring officials,’’ said Shivpal.
Reacting to a jibe by an Akhilesh loyalist that he travelled by helicopter, Shivpal hit back, “Helicopter kisi ke baap kaa nahi hai, sarkar ka hai. (The chopper is nobody’s private property, it belongs to the State Government.”