Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav on Wednesday accused his brother and Rajya Sabha MP Ram Gopal Yadav of conspiring to split the party in connivance with the BJP.
Mulayam alleged that Ram Gopal was doing the BJP's dirty job only to protect his son and daughter-in-law who were involved in corruption cases. Ram Gopal's son Akshay Yadav is the Samajwadi Party MP from Ferozabad.
A day after having a long meeting with his Chief Minister son Akhilesh Yadav to prevent an imminent split in the SP , Mulayam Singh came to the party office and addressed party workers in an emotional tone.
It was widely speculated in the party that Mulayam was likely to make some big announcements on Wednesday. Both Mulayam Singh and Akhilesh camps have filed their claims on the party’s name and election symbol before the Election Commission and a verdict is awaited on January 13.
"Nobody can create hurdles in maintaining unity in the Samajwadi Party. There are some people who are out to break the party. I know that leader who has met BJP president four times,’’ said Mulayam Singh
He added, "He is seeking favours from that leader who framed his son and daughter-in-law in corruption cases. He could have come to me and I would have done that job.’’
In an obvious dig at Ram Gopal Yadav, Mulayam said, "In my long public life, I visited the places of leaders from other parties only during marriages and other social events. I never discussed the affairs of my party with leaders of other parties.’’
Alleging that Ram Gopal was in the process of forming a new political party `Akhil Bhartiya Samajwadi Party’, an emotional Mulayam said, "Akhilesh Yadav was only two years old when Emergency was imposed and I was jailed in Varanasi, Mainpuri and other places. Despite facing acute poverty, I left the family and established the Samajwadi Party. It was your dedication that within 11 months of the formation, the SP came to power in UP,’’ said Mulayam.
Referring to Akhilesh , the SP patrarch said, "After crowning Akhilesh as the CM, I am left with nothing. I have only the party and cadres with me. Whatever I had with me, I have already given.’’
Mulayam added ``I have nothing against Akhilesh. I have already told him that he would be the next Chief Minister. I only want him to stay away from Ram Gopal. I have stressed on this several times, but he in unwilling.’’
Reiterating his resolve to protect the SP's unity, Mulayam Singh said, "The people have made me the leader and I will never allow the party to split. I want the party's unity at any cost. We have to save the party. I am neither going to float a new political party nor changing the election symbol.’’
later Mulayam Singh and Shivpal Yadav left for New Delhi in the afternoon.
Earlier in the day, there were hectic parleys at the residence of Mulayam Singh where expelled SP leader and MlA from Ayodhya Taj Narain Pandey met the patriarch. Shivpal Yadav was also closeted with Mulayam for about 45 minutes. The Akhilesh camp on Wednesday also held meeting with ministers, MlAs and other core group members at the CM's official residence.