Amidst Election Commission's refusal to recognize either of the two factions of Apna Dal, the faction led by Mirzapur MP Anupriya Patel and other of her sister Pallavi have planned separate rallies on July 2 as a show of strength on the 66th birth anniversary of their father and party's founder Dr Sone lal Patel.
While Anupriya has planned a massive rally on Jagatpur Degree College ground in Rohaniya in Varanasi, her sister Pallavi will hold a similar rally at K P College ground in Allahabad.
Anupriya, who had been expelled from the party by her mother Krishna Patel, said here on Saturday that she would hold the rally in Varanasi to unite the old guards of the Apna Dal to fight against the present Samajwadi Party government. Anupriya said that on July 6, she has called a meeting of the party leaders including national executive members and district presidents in lucknow to take the decision on future course of action.
Meanwhile, Apna Dal vice-president Pallavi Patel also said here on Saturday that Apna Dal would be celebrating 66th birth anniversary of its founder Sonelal Patel at K P College grounds in Allahabad on July 2 as 'swabhimaan diwas'. Party president Krishna Patel would be addressing the audience, and the focus of the rally would be on problems faced by farmers. "We have nothing against Anupriya and now the decision is with the Mirzapur MP to return back to the fold," Pallavi said.
On May 10, party MP from Pratapgarh Kunwar Haribansh Singh had asked Anupriya to seek forgiveness from her mother and begin a fresh political journey. The Pratapgarh MP also mentioned that the problem aggravated with the political ambition of Anupriya Patel. On May 7, infighting between Krishna Patel and Anupriya Patel attained another height with the party expelling Anupriya Patel from all party posts. Anupriya, who is Mirzapur MP, has also been stripped of party's primary membership for anti-party activities. Anupriya, however, stated categorically that no party leader had authority to expel her from the party.
In October 2014, fissures in the party became public, when the then party national general secretary and Mirzapur MP Anupriya Patel was divested from her post with immediate effect. Party president Krishna Patel said the party as well as the Patel family had fallen prey to political ambitions of her daughter Anupriya and son-in-law Ashish Kumar Singh.
On June 9, the EC had sent a letter to both Krishna and Anupriya Patel refusing to identify either of the leaders as Apna Dal president. The EC had advised them to resolve the rift as per party constitution or through appropriate court. The EC had made it clear that none of the groups would be recognized till the matter was resolved.