Simmering antagonism in the Samajwadi Party’s first family was on public display again on Saturday during the SP’s silver jubilee celebrations, barely two days after putting up a united show during the launch of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s Vikas Rath Yatra.
With top leaders of Socialist-leaning parties present at the event, a move seen as an attempt by SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav to forge an alliance ahead of the Assembly polls, the warring party satraps Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal shot barbs at each other that exposed the deep divisions within.
To begin with, Shivpal Yadav as State president had given the responsibility of anchoring the podium to the three former Ministers Narad Rai, Om Prakash Singh and Shadab Fatima. All three were dismissed from the Cabinet along with Shivpal Yadav on October 23. To embarrass the Chief Minister, the controversial Minister Gayatri Prajapati, a political greenhorn was given a prominent role on the dais and even presented Akhilesh a silver sword.
Shivpal fired the first salvo when he hinted at Akhilesh having got the Chief Minister’s chair as he was Mulayam’s son.
“Some people get things because of fate, some through hard work and some as part of inheritance. But some keep doing hard work through their lives and don’t get anything,” he said.
Asserting that he had done good work and cooperated with Akhilesh in the last four years, an emotional Shivpal said,” I want to tell Akhilesh that whatever sacrifice you want from me, I will make. I never want to become Chief Minister. You can insult me, sack me as many times as you want, but I am prepared to give even my blood for the party.”
“The sycophants are ruling the roost in the Government and are enjoying the pelf of power even by doing nothing for the party and the Government and this is the reason that I had given the call to all the followers of Chowdhary Charan Singh and lohai to come under one platform.”
“I want to assure Netaji I am willing to offer any sacrifice. Whether I have any office or not I am willing to work in the party as ordinary worker and I will ensure the compliance of your directions,” said Shivpal in emotion-packed voice.
Training his guns at the expelled SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, he said, “There are some infiltrators between us who are out to create mischief all the time and foment trouble. I want to caution the rank and file of the party to beware of such elements.”
With swords out at the event literally, Akhilesh hit back when his turn came.
Pointing towards Gayatri Prajapati, who he had sacked over graft allegations but later reinducted on Mulayam’s insistence, Akhilesh said, “Prajapati has presented me a sword. You give me sword and don’t want me to use it.”
Akhilesh was apparently hinting at opposition from Shivpal’s camp over sacking of Ministers facing corruption charges.
Apparently rejecting criticism over his lack of political and administrative experience, Akhilesh said, “If you want to put me to test I am ready for that. Our target is to defeat BJP and BSP in 2017 elections. This UP election will decide future of the country”.
While Akhilesh and Shivpal taking potshots at each other without taking names did not come as a huge surprise considering the public sparring they had been indulging in for the last few weeks, what really baffled the rank and file of the party was Mulayam objecting to Javed Abdi, a staunch supporter of Akhilesh, addressing the crowd.
Javed Abdi was lauding the works done by the CM when suddenly Mulayam asked Shivpal who had allowed the leader to speak. Immediately Shivpal rushed and pushed Abdi away from the podium and snatched his mike. The scene created some anxiety among the guests attending the function but later everything cooled off when Abdi went off the dais.
However, RJD supremo lalu Prasad, whose youngest daughter is married to Mulayam’s grand nephew, made an attempt to paper over the divide in the SP’s first family when he declared everything was all right within the party.
“They stand together...There is no rift or fighting. I ask Akhilesh babu to respect his seniors and hoist the flag of victory in Uttar Pradesh once again,” he said before making the feuding uncle-nephew duo stand beside him, holding aloft their hands that held the swords.