Akhilesh promises to support uncle Shivpal for the greater good of the Samajwadi Party.
Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav signalled a truce with his uncle Shivpal Yadav in the ongoing dispute between them regarding distribution of work and privileges.
The truce was arrived at after repeated parleys Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav held with the sparring duo, as their followers came on to the streets with demonstrations in their support.
Talking to the media on Saturday (September 17), Akhilesh said everything had been settled with the advice and solution suggested by his father. He also sought to downplay the seriousness of the situation by indulging in light-hearted banter throughout the press conference. Incidentally, his interaction was a more informal affair as Akhilesh stood in front of the table with the microphone in hand, walking and talking to mediapersons and answering their questions.
Insisting that there was no rift in the party or the family, Akhilesh said he will extend all support to his uncle Shivpal. “I have myself congratulated our party”s state president Shivpal Yadav after meeting him at his residence…. I will extend all my support to Shivpalji,” Akhilesh said. Yesterday, AKhilesh had admitted he was very upset at being removed from the post of state party president by his father and party supremo and had demanded that he be given a say in the ticket distribution for the 2017 Assembly election. Last night, he had announced that his uncle would be given back his portfolios and Gayatri Prajapati will be reinducted as Cabinet minister. These were among the issues which had triggered the conflict between the two.
Akhilesh also said that “Politics is not a game for me, it is a serious business. I am a player… have played football and cricket also… I don”t a score self goal,” he said. Referring to protests by his supporters, Akhilesh said, “I have appealed to them not to engage in any sloganeering or use any posters or hoardings. It”s election time and everyone should go to booth level and spread awareness on the good work done by the government.”
“Wherever the youths go, the direction changes. We have a great organisation,” he said. Apparently attacking BJP, he said that “some parties” are “expert” in propaganda and “they have got a chance. They must be happy that Samajwadis are fighting.”
Then he went to describe his government”s achievements and included the Agra-Lucknow expressway, the Lucknow Metro and the welfare schemes, among other things, in the achievements.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of Akhilesh supporters had gathered outside the party office and later at Mulayam Singh Yadav”s residence. Supporters of Shivpal had also gathered outside his residence. On Mulayam’s intervention, Akhilesh directed the youth workers to meet him at his residence and he himself reached uncle Shivpal”s residence.
