Shivpal meets Akhilesh to say all is well in Mulayam family

Lucknow, Aug 19 (PTI) Amid reports of differences betweenthem, Shivpal Yadav, brother of SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav,today met his nephew and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav at hisofficial residence here to send out a message that all is wellin the family. The 90-minute meeting is being seen as an attempt atreconcilation between Shivpal, a Cabinet Minister, andAkhilesh after intervention of the latter’s father Mulayam. Later talking to mediapersons at his residence, Shivpaldenied any "differences" within the family. "Where is it?…I can’t see. The family had met yesterdayand is with each other today also. We (Akhilesh and Shivpal)were busy yesterday. So we sat together today," he said whenasked to comment on reports of differences. Shivpal had skipped a meeting of the state cabinet onWednesday, adding fuel to speculation about his unhappiness,which was music to the ears of the opposition in view of theupcoming Assembly elections. "He is Chief Minister and I am a minister, we have jointresonsibility in the government," he said. At the same time, Shivpal said he was "pained" when actionwas not taken against land grabbers and accepted that some"party office bearers" were involved in such "illegal" acts. "It’s my opinion that such persons should be sacked fromthe party," he said. Recently, even Mulayam had given a tongue lashing to SPlawmakers asking them to refrain from land grabbing and makingeasy money and instead concentrate on development work if theywanted to retain power in the state. Exuding confidence that SP would form government again,and this time with a thumping majority, Shivpal said, "In 2017we will get majority again and it will be bigger than 2012." SP had won 224 of the 403 UP Assembly seats last time andstormed to power. (MORE) PTI ABN SMIAKK