The controversy in Samajwadi Party’s first family could not have come at worst time than this.
At a time when all political majors —the BJP, the Congress and the BSP, are vigorously pursuing their campaign for the 2017 Assembly polls, the SP top brass were busy in washing their dirty linen in public.
In the last two months, this is second time that a political crisis has gripped the SP’s first family ahead of the crucial state elections.
In June, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had sacked senior minister Balram Yadav for his role in the merger of Mokhtar Ansari’s Qaumi Ekta Dal with the Samajwadi Party. later to satisfy the CM, the SP Parliamentary Board had rolled back the decision of merger and Balram Yadav was also reinstated in the cabinet.
The fresh controversy was triggered by the appointment of Shivpal Yadav as state Samajwadi Party chief replacing Akhilesh Yadav, who held the post from June, 2009. In a knee jerk repartee, Akhilesh Yadav divested his uncle Shivpal of all important portfolios on Wednesday night.
``It was not an earth shaking decision to appoint Shivpal Yadav as state SP chief. He was working president of the state unit in 2012 too. The only mistake that the party committed was that in the whole process Akhilesh was not kept in the loop and he learnt about it through the media,‘’ said a senior SP leader.
The SP leader revealed,`` Shivpal Yadav was appointed for streamlining the outfit and ensuring better cohesion between the government and the organisation ahead of the Assembly polls as one individual could not do justice to both the responsibilities. It’s unfortunate that a well-meaning decision snowballed into a major crisis ahead of the crucial Assembly polls.’’
“let there be no confusion that Akhilesh Yadav is and will be the face of the party in the coming polls. Annointment of Shivpal in place of Akhilesh will not make any impact on the stature of the CM and as leader of the party. The controversy has certainly caused immense damage to the party, but it will overcome the same soon and issues will be sorted out,’’ the SP leader hoped.
Meanwhile the Samawjadi Party leaders and cadre were caught unawares by the CM’s hasty decision of acting against his uncle and uncovering his running battle with Shivpal and Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh in the public domain.
The CM’s knee jerk reaction to divest Shivpal Yadav of all important portfolios - PWD, Irrigation and Revenue, and allotting him insignificant Social Welfare department after his elevation as state SP president particularly baffled the rank and file of the party.
``The fault lines within the first family of the Samajwadi Party are well known. The CM should have consulted senior leaders before acting against his uncle,’’ opined a SP leader.
Party sources said, ``The crisis will ultimately blow away but the position of Shivpal Yadav in the cabinet has become untenable and it would be difficult for him to continue as minister after the humiliation handed out by the CM.”