New Delhi: After Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav claimed the support of over 200 lawmakers of the ruling Samajwadi Party, his estranged father Mulayam Singh Yadav met with his top aides till 1 am on Thursday night.
This morning, Shivpal Yadav met Akhilesh for 10 minutes and then headed to to Mulayam Singh’s residence. While a patch-up between the father and son is bleak, reports say Mulayam may sacrifice Amar Singh to end the rift.
The rift between Akhilesh Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav came to the fore after the latter re-inducted Amar Singh into the party fold six years after his expulsion in 2010. Differences grew as Akhilesh rallied for his expulsion calling him an outsider who was trying to create a split in the SP. Mulayam, however, sided with his old associate.
Mulayam Singh is hopelessly outnumbered, with Akhilesh Yadav claiming to have the signed support of 214 lawmakers.
Akhilesh Yadav, 43, was quoted as saying by one of his ministers that he had asked his father to give him control of the party for three months, until the February-March election in Uttar Pradesh.
This will give the Chief Minister complete control over the choice of party candidates, which is at the centre of the massive Yadav family feud simmering over the past few months.
Minister Ravidas Malhotra, who attended the meeting of lawmakers at Akhilesh Yadav’s home yesterday, quoted him as saying: “Netaji is my father. I have asked him to give me authority for three months. After returning to power, he may decide whatever he wants.”
