'Shivpal a good man', says Mulayam Singh Yadav, siding with his older brother, against his son Akhilesh
Highlights
- Mulayam Singh Yadav targets son Akhilesh, who is Chief Minister
- Mulayam sides with brother Shivpal Yadav, who is a minister
- Shivpal "a good man", opinions being ignored, says Mulayam
"If I stand up, this government will feel the heat": Akhilesh Yadav, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, was politically trolled today. By his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav.
At a function in Lucknow this morning, the Yadavs both gave public speeches for Independence Day. With India's most populous state scheduled to vote soon, Mulayam Yadav, the head of the Samajwadi Party, made it clear that he is siding with his older brother, Shivpal Yadav, against his son.
In June, the Chief Minister, 43, over-ruled Shivpal Yadav, a cabinet minister widely perceived as thrust upon him by his father, in refusing to allow the Samajwadi Party to annex a small regional party headed by a criminal as a partner for the election. Akhilesh Yadav, beleagured by accusations of presiding over an increasing lawlessness, allegedly told his family that a tainted partner would further that perception and dent the government's attempt to project itself as focused on developing one of India's most backward states.
But now sources say that Mulayam Singh Yadav may forge ahead with the merger because Mukhtar Ansari's criminal credentials are outweighed by his ability to drive more Muslim supporters to the Samajwadi Party. Sources say that in deference to the Chief Minister's objections, Mr Ansari may not be allowed to run for election, though his two brothers are likely to be sanctioned as candidates.
"He (Shivpal) is the only one one who listens to me and even he wants to resign why are they insulting him? If I stand up, this government will feel the heat," Mulayam Singh Yadav, 76, said.
Shivpal Yadav has recently declared that he wants to quit the cabinet because party workers, who he has hinted are aligned to younger brother Ram Gopal Yadav, defy his instructions.
Ram Gopal Yadav, a parliamentarian, and Shivpal Yadav have a long tradition of rivalry. Mulayam Singh Yadav is seen as closer to the latter, who he praised today as "a good man whose opinions should be heeded."