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Yadav feud: Ramgopal’s son Akshay defends father, says Shivpal is ambitious
Ramgopal Yadav, once a trusted Samajwadi Party (SP) leader, has been left with no choice but to hibernate or explore some other option, after dumped by cheif Mulayam Singh Yadav.
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Ramgopal Yadav, once a trusted Samajwadi Party (SP) leader, has been left with no choice but to hibernate or explore some other option, after dumped by cheif Mulayam Singh Yadav.
On Sunday, UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and the SP chief sacked each other’s loyalists Shivpal Yadav and Ramgopal Yadav.
Akhilesh first sacked Shivpal, his uncle and party’s state unit chief, and three other “pro-Amar Singh” ministers from his Cabinet. Later, Mulayam expelled Ramgopal, his pro-CM cousin and SP’s national general secretary from the party for six years.
Akhilesh defended Ramgopal by saying, “He never asked me for removal (of Shivpal)”.
Meanwhile, Ramgopal’s son and SP MP from Firozabad Akshay Yadav circulated a letter countering allegations against his father, himself and his wife. “I am hurt by the expulsion of my father from the party. All the charges against me, my father and my wife are false,” said Akshay.
Akshay termed Shivpal as ambitious. “His (Shivpal’s) ambition was to become the chief minister. When Akhilesh was called to the SP’s parliamentary board meeting as special invitee, Shivpal opposed the move. When there was a discussion on naming Akhilesh as CM, Shivpal opposed it. He also threatened he would not take oath if Akhilesh was made CM. My father opposed this and came in the way of Shivpal’s ambition which upset him,” said Akshay.
He also accused Shivpal of stalling projects in his constituency. “This compelled my father to write a letter to Netaji (Mulayam). Work in my constituency began only when the CM made some announcements during his visit to Firozabad. I have evidence to prove that Shivpal tried to ensure my defeat in Firozabad,” he said.
Referring to accusations that Ramgopal met BJP leaders, Akshay questioned Shivpal’s meetings with a BJP MP and a senior BJP leader in July this year. He did not name them.
“Was the wedding reception function of Shivpal’s son not arranged by a BJP MP? Did he not attend a party organised to celebrate a BJP MPs victory?” asked Akshay.
“Akhilesh is my ideal and I respect him a lot. He has risen as a leader despite attempts to pull him down. He has not been given a free hand. He was mentally tortured but he brought laurels to the state and did good work without paying heed to criticism,” he said.
Akshay said Akhilesh was also ill-treated when he shifted to his new house. “Akhilesh left behind some of his belongings in the old house. The luggage was thrown out and the room was locked,” he said.
