Akhilesh Yadav A Fantastic Chief Minister, Not Mass Leader Yet: Amar Singh

Kolkata: Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh has said Akhilesh Yadav is a fantastic chief minister, but needs time to become a mass leader. Mr Singh has also rejected Mr Yadav's allegation that he is trying to destroy their party.

"As Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is absolutely fantastic. As a first time administrator his focus on development, agenda for development, is mind-boggling," Mr Singh said in Kolkata.

He added, "I am not saying he is not a mass leader, but it takes time to become a mass leader. He is still very young. Blending of organisational skill and experience of Mulayam Singh and youth face of Akhilesh is very necessary."

Amar Singh, who returned to the Samajwadi Party this year after six years in exile, has been accused by Akhilesh Yadav of instigating the current crisis that has deeply divided the Yadav family that rules Uttar Pradesh.     

Akhilesh's supporters allege that Amar Singh is helping his uncle Shivpal Yadav plot his removal so that he can be chief minister of UP. They see Amar Singh's hand in Shivpal Yadav being made the party's UP chief in place of Akhilesh last month, an elevation that gives him direct control of choosing candidates for the UP elections to be held early next year.    

But Akhilesh's father and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav yesterday described Amar Singh as "my brother" and said his past sins were forgiven, making clear that he is here to stay.

Amar Singh has thanked Mulayam Singh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav for standing by him. Mulayam Singh, he said, was the "core" and the "father" of the Samajwadi Party.

The crisis in the Samajwadi Party, the 60-year-old politician said, did not worry him. "What is important is resolution of that crisis," Amar Singh said.

He dismissed the allegations against him as "irrelevant" in the face of Mulayam Singh's staunch defence of him. "When the ultimate authority has given a statement, these allegations have become irrelevant," Amar Singh said.

At a party meeting in Lucknow on Monday, Mulayam Singh Yadav had sided with Shivpal Yadav and Amar Singh as he reprimanded son Akhilesh Yadav before hundreds of party workers and leaders.

When Akhilesh Yadav accused Amar Singh of "planting stories against me," Shivpal Yadav snatched the mic and called the Chief Minister a "liar."

"I give my best wishes to Akhilesh Yadav. I have wished him on his birthday. He is the son of my supreme leader, my best wishes are with him," said Amar Singh, who was expelled by the party in 2010 due to the efforts of Akhilesh Yadav and leaders close to him.