In a significant development newly appointed state president of Samajwadi Party Shivpal Singh Yadav met Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav at his residence on Thursday indicating this could be a step forward in resolving the family feud which has pushed Samajwadi Party to its biggest political crisis.
The meeting lasted for just 15 minutes after which Shivpal drove to his residence, a senior leader told The Pioneer.
Insiders in the party say that Shivpal Singh earlier had an hour long meeting with Mulayam Singh Yadav at his residence – 5 Vikramaditya Marg – and from there he drove to 5 Kalidas marg – the official residence of Chief Minister.
Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is caught between his son and brother, stepped in to defuse the crisis and reached lucknow a day earlier. He was earlier expected to come to state capital on Friday but preferred to come a day earlier because of intransigent stand taken by Akhilesh Yadav.
Sources in the party say that Mulayam had summoned both Shivpal Singh Yadav and Akhilesh to New Delhi on Wednesday. Shivpal was in Etawah but reached Delhi but Akhilesh – despite cancelling his official engagements did not go to Delhi to meet party patriarch.
Realising that situation might go out of hand Mulayam proponed his programme and before coming to lucknow told reporters in lucknow that everything will be sorted out. “Once I reach lucknow I will resolve the crisis,” he said.
In lucknow – Mulayam had a meeting with Shivpal Yadav. Sources said that he persuaded him to go and meet Akhilesh Yadav. “This was probably done to break ice between Chacha and Bhatija. The meeting between two was short – just for 13 minutes to be precise,” a source said.
Interestingly, another family member Prof Ram Gopal Yadav who met Chief Minister for around two hours left for saifai without meeting either Shivpal Singh or Mulayam Singh Yadav. He however said that neta ji will resolve the crisis as no one in party can disobey him, he said.
In another development two senior ministers in Akhilesh Yadav government namely Balram Yadav and Awdhesh Prasad have refused to take charge of new portfolios. They were given departments which were previously headed by Shivpal Singh Yadav.