The Samajwadi Party is contemplating action against the Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh for his scathing criticism of the party, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and senior leader Ram Gopal Yadav.
During an interview to a television channel on August 22, Singh had threatened to resign from the Rajya Sabha expressing his displeasure with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and SP leader in Rajya Sabha Ram Gopal Yadav. Besides criticising the Chief Minister and Ram Gopal Yadav, Singh had also expressed his sympathies for Shivpal Yadav. Amar Singh was elected to RS as Samajwadi Party candidate in June.
The maverick leader, who was expelled from the SP in 2010, had also said that he would send his resignation to Chairman of the RS and vice-president Hamid Ansari.
The SP brass is miffed with Singh for airing his resentment in the media instead of raising the issues at the party forum. SP sources said that the decision about Amar Singh is likely to be taken within a week at a meeting of SP's first family scheduled to take place in New Delhi on Monday.
Singh is ostensibly miffed with the CM for the lack of access and also for not appointing former Rampur MP and close aide Jaya Prada as Chairperson of UP Film Vikas Parishad.
During the TV interview, Singh had said, “I want to meet the CM but not getting an appointment and the CM's office tells me that my name has been referred to the CM. Now this is my level in the Samajwadi Party’’.
Expressing his sympathy with PWD Minister Shivpal Yadav, Singh had said, "Shivpal Yadav has been marginalised in the party and the Government as he cannot even get a SSP of choice posted in Etawah.’’
Amar Singh had also attacked SP leader in Rajya Sabha Ram Gopal Yadav saying that he has been rendered mute and not allowed to speak during the debate on Goods and Service Tax (GST). "leaders like Naresh Agarwal and Surendra Nagar were given the chance to speak but leaders like Beni Prasad Verma, Revati Raman Singh and I have been relegated to the back benches in the Upper House of Parliament.’’
``It was not an off the cuff statement. It was a well calibrated interview given to a TV channel to convey a message to the party brass. Amar Singh is yet to reconcile with his position in the party as he is no longer indispensable. The party brass has interpreted his statement as an attempt to meddle in the feud within the Yadav clan,’’ said a senior SP leader.
Reacting to Singh's criticism, the CM said on Thursday, `` I have learnt that my uncle is unhappy with me as I have not met him. If I keep on meeting people then when would I work and discharge my official duties.’’