In an apparent setback to unity efforts in Samajwadi Party’s first family, party patron Mulayam singh Yadav and his younger brother Shivpal Yadav were missing from the 55 member national executive members announced by the party on Monday.
SP secretary general released a 55-member national executive members headed by party chief Akhilesh Yadav. Supporters of both Mulayam Singh and Shivpal Yadav have been denied berth in the apex body. The SP national convention at Agra on October 5 had authorised the party president to constitute the national executive.
Shivpal Yadav however said in lucknow on Monday, “The family is united and there is no dispute. As per established tradition, the entire family will gather at Sefai in Etawah for Diwali and we will celebrate the festival together.”
“I wish the next government in UP is formed led by Akhilesh Yadav. He is the undisputed leader of the party and I am confident that the party will break fresh ground and cover new milestones under Akhilesh,’’ said Shivpal Yadav in lucknow on Monday.
After the SP national convention, it was widely expected that Akhilesh Yadav will accommodate his uncle in the organisation as per reconciliation efforts made by his father Mulayam Singh, which however id not happen.
The new national executive has 10 general secretaries and 10 secretaries besides 25 executive members and six special invitee members.
SP Rajya Sabha member Kironmoy Nanda has been retained as the lone vice-president of the committee while Ram Gopal Yadav continues to be the secretary general. Treasurer Sanjay Seth has also been retained on the same post. The committee has only five women members.
Among 10 general secretaries, the party has retained Azam Khan, Naresh Agarwal and seven others with Indrajeet Saroj, who recently left Bahujan Samaj party and joined the SP, as the new entrant. Prominent among the10 secretaries are Jo Antony of Kerala, Dr Madhu Gupta and SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary.
Among 25 executive members, former cine star and Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan, leader of Opposition in UP Assembly Ram Govind Chaudhary, Abu Asim Azmi (Mumbai) and SP MlA Ujjawal Raman Singh names are prominent. Though most relatives of Akhilesh Yadav did not get any place in the national executive except for Ferozabad MP and Ram Gopal’s son Akshay Yadav but he has been made a special invitee member.