The eighth State convention of Samajwadi Party (SP) set the ball rolling for the exit of Shivpal Yadav — the warring uncle of SP president Akhilesh Yadav.
During the convention, senior SP leaders vied with each other in affirming their loyalty to Akhilesh Yadav and demanded the expulsion of traitors from the party. SP leaders unanimously projected Akhilesh Yadav as the only hope for UP and the future Prime Minister of India in 2024.
SP sources said the clamour for the ouster of Shivpal Yadav was orcherasted by the party brass to prepare ground for a ‘surgical strike’ against the remaining detractors of Akhilesh Yadav within the party.
Earlier, this week, Shivpal Yadav was appointed the Secretary of lohia Trust headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav and cousin brother Ram Gopal Yadav was sacked from the Trust. Mulayam Singh along with Shivpal Yadav will briefed media persons at lohia Trust to announce his future course of action on September 25.
SP’s Muslim mascot, Azam Khan in his stinging remark, said, “We lost the recent Assembly election due to some fifth columnists within our ranks. They stabbed us in the back by joining hands with the BJP to sabotage the electoral prospects of SP candidates.’’
Referring to recent defection of SP MlCs and their joining the BJP, Khan said, “SP does not need traitors. All those searching greener pastures should leave the party as they are inflicting grave damage by remaining within the party.’’
“The result of 2019 lok Sabha polls would decide the future of UP in 2022 Assembly poll. All other parties will have to ponder about their future. They should consider joining hands with Samajwadi Party and strengthen SP chief Akhilesh Yadav,’’ said Khan.
The SP leader opined, “If we fail to come on one platform then Akhilesh Yadav will not be the sole loser and it will be the loss of 130 million people of India. I appeal to Socialists scattered in different parties to join Samajwadi Party and strengthen the hands of Akhilesh Yadav.”
Rajya Sabha member Naresh Agarwal launched a direct attack on Shivpal Yadav saying, “Enough is enough. The party should no longer tolerate traitors who joined hands with the BJP during the recent Assembly poll to inflict huge damage to the party. Mulayam Singh Yadav was very liberal person and tolerated indiscipline by party leaders. But Akhilesh should not repeat this mistake. Before the party is forced to act, those who are against the SP and its president should leave on their own volition.’’
Without naming Shivpal Yadav, Agarwal said, “After the party attained majority in Assembly in 2012, a particular leader was against Akhilesh Yadav as Chief Minister. But, Ram Gopal Yadav took up the cudgels on his behalf and Akhilesh’ five-year tenure as CM proved that he was the best chief minister of India.’’
Praising Akhilesh’ leadership, Agarwal said, “It was a common joke that there were five CMs in UP. But Akhilesh never cared and even after losing 2017 Assembly poll, he remained unfazed. The 2019 lok Sabha election and 2022 Assembly elections in UP belong to the Samajwadi Party.’’
Agarwal also accused the RSS of misleading people from Other Backward Castes (OBCs) for getting their votes in recent Assembly elections.