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Shivpal sacks Ramgopal’s kin, may reignite Yadav family feud in SP
Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav kicked off his tenure as state president by expelling a relative of national secretary Ramgopal Yadav, possibly reigniting tensions in the state’s ruling party ahead of assembly polls next year.
Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav kicked off his tenure as state president by expelling a relative of national secretary Ramgopal Yadav, possibly reigniting tensions in the state’s ruling party ahead of assembly polls next year.
Shivpal dismissed Arvind Pratap Yadav, Ramgopal’s nephew and a member of the legislative council, for “indiscipline and anti-party activities” on Sunday.
The move came days after party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav tamped down a raging feud between his son and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and brother Shivpal.
In an exclusive interview to HT on Friday, Mulayam described Ramgopal as his number 2 and said the national secretary had already drawn up a potential list of candidates for the upcoming state polls. Akhilesh and Shivpal have been locked in a fierce battle for control of the party and ticket distribution.
Read | Netaji will decide the CM face in Uttar Pradesh, says Akhilesh Yadav
Sources said Arvind was involved in land-grab and hooch trade with several complaints against him. “Arvind is also accused of making derogatory against Mulayam,” said SP state secretary SRS Yadav in a statement.
The decision may shatter an uneasy peace in the party after Akhilesh’s said he would extend full support to the new state president, Shivpal. Akhilesh also returned most of the departments to his uncle.
Earlier in the day, Shivpal called on Mulayam at the airport before the latter flew to Delhi. He then came to the party office with his son Aditya Yadav. There were no drumbeats, trumpets, showers of petals or any sloganeering. Once he entered, the gates were shut.
Addressing party workers, Shivpal said that as elections were near, everyone should gear up to strengthen the party for forming a majority government again.
Read | No fight in Samajwadi Party; Akhilesh won’t defy me, says Mulayam
He also warned workers against factionalism saying, “There is no place for factionalism and those indulging in it will be dealt with strictly.”
Since Thursday night factionalism in the party has come out on the streets with workers and leaders engaging in dharna and sloganeering for either Akhilesh or Shivpal.
“If you all want to shout slogans, it should be first for the party, then for Netaji (Mulayam) and then chief minister,” he told the workers.
