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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Samajwadi Party rift: No resolution to Yadav family spat
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Samajwadi Party rift: No resolution to Yadav family spat

Meeting called by Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav to broker a peace between his brother and son turns into an acrimonious exchange between the two

Supporters of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav at the Samajwadi Party office in Lucknow on Monday. The feud spilled onto the streets with an ugly showdown between Akhilesh’s supporters and those of his uncle Shivpal Yadav. Photo: PTIPremium
Supporters of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav at the Samajwadi Party office in Lucknow on Monday. The feud spilled onto the streets with an ugly showdown between Akhilesh’s supporters and those of his uncle Shivpal Yadav. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: With neither side willing to blink, even the intervention of Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav failed on Monday to resolve the bitter face-off between his son Akhilesh Yadav and brother Shivpal Yadav.

If unresolved, it could potentially impair the prospects of the Samajwadi Party in the upcoming elections to the Uttar Pradesh assembly. The party is already facing an anti-incumbency sentiment and a stiff challenge from the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

A meeting called by Mulayam in Lucknow on Monday to broker a peace between his Shivpal and Akhilesh became an acrimonious exchange of barbs between the two warring men; it also entailed heated exchanges between Mulayam and his son.

Also Read: Samajwadi Party rift: The exchanges between Mulayam and Akhilesh Yadav

Though Akhilesh denied claims that he was going to form a new party, he maintained that he was willing to resign as Uttar Pradesh chief minister at his father’s request.

“If Netaji asked me for my resignation, I would have given it. Let Mulayam Singh Yadav install a chief minister who he feels is honest. Why should I form a new party? Many people are trying to create divisions within our family but I have taught myself how to oppose any wrongdoing," Akhilesh Yadav told the meeting, according to the Press Trust of India.

During the day, Mulayam addressed the party’s legislative leaders and admitted that the family rift was causing political uncertainty in the state. “I feel really sad because of this rift in our family. Instead of fighting our weaknesses, we are fighting among ourselves," he told party workers.

Also Read: Mulayam Singh Yadav owns up to ‘rift’ in Samajwadi Party

However, Mulayam defended his brother Shivpal and party general secretary Amar Singh. “I can’t leave Amar Singh or Shivpal Yadav. All of Amar Singh’s sins are forgiven, he is like my brother, he saved me from going to jail. I cannot forget the work done by Shivpal for me and the party," Mulayam said.

He also snubbed Akhilesh, saying “If you can’t face criticism, you can’t be a leader."

Senior Samajwadi Party leaders believe that, through his intervention, Mulayam is signalling to his supporters that he is in control and that he will have the final word.

“The division within the family has not ended. Mulayam Singh Yadav’s decision has only pushed the resolution of the problem to another day. With no final outcome of the feud, the differences remain and it will only hurt the prospects of the party in the upcoming assembly polls," said a senior Samajwadi Party leader who is based in Lucknow.

Meanwhile, the feud spilled onto the streets with an ugly showdown between Akhilesh’s and Shivpal’s supporters outside the party headquarters in Lucknow.

Analysts said the infighting may hamper the party’s election chances.

“Voters do not take kindly to any kind of infighting, not at least in an incumbent party. It makes voters feel the party cannot be trusted over delivery of promises. What is happening in Samajwadi Party is a long-term struggle to gain control of the party. The leadership is however being short-sighted and turning this into (a question of) who will be the next chief minister if the party wins. The functional part here is ‘if the party wins’, the chances of which are getting seriously affected by this spat," said Sandeep Shastri, a political analyst and pro-vice chancellor of Bengaluru-based Jain University.

“Eventually I think all factions will realize that the future lies in staying together and they will have to come up with a compromise formula and working relationship," Shastri added.

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Published: 24 Oct 2016, 08:43 PM IST
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