Rift within first family of SP comes to fore: Mulayam supports brother, raps Akhilesh

15 August, Lucknow

A day after influential Uttar Pradesh Minister Shivpal Singh Yadav offered to quit over the current law and order situation in the state, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav Monday came out in full support of his younger brother and rapped the Akhilesh Yadav government.

The SP chief said if Shivpal resigns, no one can stop the party from splitting and in present circumstances, it is very hard to stop Shivpal from resigning. He also openly said that if there is any split, then he will be with Shivpal and no one else.

“Shivpal is the leader who is meeting everyone and doing his work efficiently but unfortunately, the state government is against him and some leaders are doing conspiracy against him.When other leaders are just interested in grabbing land and minting money, it is only Shivpal who is working round the clock,” Mr Yadav said, in a veiled attack on his son and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Mr Mulayam, who unfurled the national flag at the state party office here, said, “Barring Shivpal, no other Minister is fulfilling his duty. Some leaders are busy occupying properties. Some of them even in the Ministry. Akhilesh knows about one such leader. If I will take the matter in my hand, such people will flee. It’s election time we can’t annoy our workers.

“Shivpal had tended his resignation twice in the past, but on my request he had withdrawn. However, the matter has gone out of hand now. We have no other option, but to persuade him to stay, otherwise a split could be eminent and half of the party will go with him,” he opined.

Mr Mulayam further said that such statement demoralises the party workers and affects the party’s preparation for the Assembly polls.

Attacking a section of the youths in the party, the SP supremo said, “these youth are only interested in grabbing lands and earning bad name for the party. I will personally visit all 18 divisions soon to monitor the party’s activity.”

Mr Mulayam’s statement gives a clear picture about the rift within the first family of the state, particularly between the uncle and the nephew.

Yesterday during a function in Mainpuri, Shivpal had created stir in political circles and the ruling party by threatening to resign and join the opposition ranks, if there is no perceptible improvement in law and order in the state and the harassment of common people in police stations and Tehsil office is not stopped.

“Despite my repeated efforts and directions to the government officials, there is no noticeable change at the ground level. There are certain officials who are deliberately ignoring my directives. If this situation continues to prevail and no change in the behaviour of the officials, then I can also resign from the government,” Shvipal had commented.

“If the corruption, harassment and humiliation of people is not stopped forthwith, then I am ready for the big sacrifice. I will resign from the government and join the opposition ranks for serving the people,” said the uncle of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

“I have directed the officials that there should be no harassment of any person at any office of the government and the police station. Nobody should be humiliated and there should be no illegal activity in any premises, said Mr Shivpal in a public meeting. “The office of Tehsil and police station are the front office of the state government and meant for serving the common people and farmers, but they have turned into centres of harassment,” he alleged.

Akhilesh is also the State Home Minister and Shivpal’s statement could be termed as a direct attack on him.

It’s a known fact that Shivpal had been annoyed over the past few months over him allegedly being sidelined in the process of major decisions within the government.
Shivpal, the younger brother of SP chief Mulayam and uncle of Akhilesh, holds important portfolios in the Cabinet like PWD, Irrigation, Revenue and Co-operatives department. He is also the In-charge of the state unit of Samajwadi Party and also the chief spokesman of the ruling party.