Lucknow: In a major political move, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Sunday once again broke the whip against party general secretary Ramgopal Yadav, days after expelling him from the party along with his son Akhilesh Kumar Yadav for six years. Acting against Ramgopal Yadav for convening the national executive meet, Mulayam Singh expelled him from Samajwadi Party for six years.
Earlier in the morning, Upstaging Mulayam Singh Yadav, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was appointed the SP president in place of his father at the party national convention which also proposed the expulsion of “outsider” Amar Singh and removal of Shivpal Yadav from the post of UP chief.
Minutes after Mulayam Singh Yadav termed the convention called by Ram Gopal Yadav as “unconstitutional”, the meeting unanimously decided to crown Akhilesh as head of the SP.
After a brief truce in the ruling Samajwadi Party on Saturday the open war in the party was all out in the open with the national convention declaring Akhilesh Yadav as party president.
The proposal was met with a huge applause by party cadres gathered at the sprawling Janeshwar Misra Park amid chilly conditions.
Ram Gopal also moved a proposal to make Mulayam Singh, the founder president of the party, as party patron and removing Shivpal Singh Yadav from the state unit post.
Earlier on Sunday morning as soon as the national convention got underway at the Janeshwar Misra park, Mulayam Singh issued a letter declaring the convention as unconstitutional.
“Today a so-called convention has been convened by Ram Gopal. This is against party constitution and discipline. This has been convened to damage the party,” Yadav said in the letter.
Although Mulayam warned that participation in the convention will be taken as indiscipline and action will be initiated against those attending it, almost all the senior leaders who had been longtime associates of Mulayam shared dias with Ram Gopal and Akhilesh.
Soon after being proposed as the national president of the party, Akhilesh Yadav said his respect for his father was more than ever and that he would stand against those conspiring against the party.
“Those who conspired against the party, damaged it and also posed problems before the national president…Should know that my respect for the national president (Mulayam Singh) will be more than before,” the chief minister said.
“People might raise questions and level allegations but I said this before and say it again that as his son if there is any conspiracy against the party and him it is my duty to stand against them”, he said.
“I had said that I was ready to step down as state unit president earlier too …He had made me the CM and gave me a chance to work…”, he said .
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