Today’s decision was tough, but need to protect those you love: Akhilesh Yadav
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav might have staged a virtual coup in the Samajwadi Party but through the course of his address to party cadre on Sunday.
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav said on Sunday that making the right decision was important to “protect someone you love”.
“Sometimes to protect the ones you love you must make the right decision. What I did today was a tough decision but one that I had to take,” he posted on Twitter, referring to the coup of sorts that unseated his father Mulayam Singh as the ruling Samajwadi Party’s national president.
Taking over the stage after his appointment as the SP national president, Akhilesh attacked his detractors in the party.
“They have conspired against the party to weaken it,” he said. “I will respect Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) 100 times more than what I was doing earlier.”
“Someone will level allegations against me (for convening the convention). But there was a conspiracy against Netaji and the party. Being Netaji’s son, it is my duty to expose such people (conspirators),” said Akhilesh to thousands of party supporters waiting to hear him.
Justifying the convention and his appointment as national president, Akhilesh said, “I had vowed to work in the party’s interest. It is my responsibility to save the party and the family. I will take every step to save my father (from the conspirators) and strengthen the party.”
Read | In Yadav family feud, Akhilesh camp gets a boost ahead of UP election
Mincing no words to attack his opponents within the party, Akhilesh said, “Being Netaji’s son, it was my duty to foil all conspiracies against him and the party and expose those who are behind it.”
Some people will level allegations against me (for convening this convention), he added.
“If I have to make any sacrifice to save the party and my family, I will,” said Akhilesh.
“Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) will always remain my father and I will always be his son.”
Commenting on the forthcoming assembly polls in the state, Akhilesh said, “It is my responsibility to win the election for the party and Netaji will be the happiest person when Samajwadi Party forms the next government in the state.”
Meanwhile, at the special emergency national convention, Ramgopal Yadav, the national general secretary of the party, said, “Two people (read Shivpal and Amar Singh) conspired against the party and chief minister.”
“Ticket distribution (by Shivpal) was wrong as no Parliamentary board meeting was convened to discuss candidates’ names,” added Ramgopal.
Attacking Shivpal, Ramgopal said, “The state president of the party took decisions without Netaji’s (Mulayam) approval. He (Shivpal) even acted on Netaji’s behalf without consulting him.”
Read | Samajwadi Party rank and file backs Akhilesh in turf war with Shivpal