Claiming 'all izz well' in the first family of Samajwadi Party over merger of Quami Ekta Dal (QED), Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said the decision of the party was acceptable to all.
"There is no dispute within the party or in the family over the merger as projected by the media. If there is anything, it will be discussed in the party forum. Whatever Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) says will be acceptable to us," the Chief Minister told reporters after a Cabinet meeting in lucknow on Thursday.
SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has called for a meeting of the Central Parliamentary Board of the party in lucknow on June 25 to discuss important issues, including intra-party dispute over the merger and the subsequent dismissal of minister Balram Yadav.
Akhilesh Yadav, who is also the SP state chief, said, "There is no bad blood among leaders or within the family over the merger. You people have made a mountain out of a mole hill,” he said brushing aside any row with a smile.
The dispute rose when the CM said in Jaunpur on Tuesday that SP does not need any alliance to retain power. “If we can manage booths, we will win the polls hands down,” he had said probably at a time when his uncle and senior SP leader Shivpal Singh Yadav was announcing the merger of the QED with the SP in lucknow.
The same night, the CM removed Secondary Education minister Balram Singh Yadav from the ministry for his being instrumental in the merger.
When asked about thesacking of Balram Yadav, the CM said that there was nothing to comment on. "If the Parliamentary Board feels the issue is important, it can also be discussed in the scheduled meet," he said.
“You people are missing out on the most significant political event of Swamy Prasad Maurya quitting the BSP. Maurya is a good person but he was in the wrong party. He did the right thing by leaving the BSP," the CM said refusing to reveal whether he would join the SP.
Hitting out at Opposition parties, Yadav said that as they did not have any agenda, they were raising non-issues. It seems the Opposition has already accepted defeat as SP has fulfilled all promises made in the manifesto.
"In 2012 polls, people had supported the SP and the party did no fail them. This time too, the SP will get the blessings of the masses,” the CM asserted.