UP-SP 2 LAST

At the meeting with Akhilesh, Shivpal is understood to At the meeting with Akhilesh, Shivpal is understood tohave narrated his concerns related to governance in the statewhich is busy preparing for the elections barely few monthsaway. Hailing the works done by Akhlesh government, Shivpalsaid, "Besides distributioin of laptops and scholarships,other welfare schemes were launched in the state for benefitof people." Asked about Mulayam’s statement that some persons wereconspiring against him, Shivpal said, "if it is so, Netaji(Mulayam) will deal with it." He said no discussion took place with Akhilesh onorganisational matters. On the controversial question of merger of Quami Ekta Dal(QED) of underworld don Mukhtar Ansari with Samajwadi Party,he said, "The final decision in this regard will be taken byNetaji." The differences within the party had come to the foreafter Shivpal, who is also incharge of SP state unit, held apress conference in June to announce merger of QED with SP. Akhilesh, however, did not approve of the idea and at hisbehest the merger was cancelled by SP’s Parliamentary Boardthree days later, leaving Shivpal red faced. Shivpal then displayed his unhappiness at the birthdayparty of another brother Ram Gopal Yadav. He arrived late atthe venue of the party, so much that the birthday cake hadalready been cut in the presence of Mulayam, Akhilesh andother key leaders. Also, instead of going to the dais, Shivpal sat among theinvitees at the birthday party. Later, on prodding by leaders,he went to the dais but chose to occupy a chair in the backrow and even avoided going up to Ramgopal to wish him on hisbirthday. Later, Shivpal was also conspicuous by his absence at theswearing-in ceremony of ministers at Raj Bhawan when BalramYadav was reinducted. Akhilesh had sacked Balram from his ministry forfacilitating QED-SP amalgamation that took place hurriedlywhen the Chief Minister was away from the state capital. But, three days later the SP parliamentary board — theparty’s highest policy making body — while calling off themerger also decided to reinduct Balram, showing that topfunctionaries in the party were not on the same page. Fishing in troubled waters, BSP supremo Mayawati onWednesday urged the Election Commission to hold Assemblyelections in Uttar Pradesh by February, alleging that the"infighting" within the Mulayam Singh Yadav clan will have anadverse effect on the functioning of the SP government. She alleged that while BJP and Samajwadi Party want todelay the assembly polls, the Commission should start workingon the schedule and announce the dates in January-February inlarger "public interest". The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said ideally theBJP-led government should have prepared for imposition ofPresident’s Rule in the state long back due to the prevailingsituation there. PTI ABN SMIAKK