Mulayam A Large-Hearted Father, Says Party, Desperate To Avoid A Split

Lucknow: Fireworks of an entirely non-celebratory sort are marking the new year for the Samajwadi Party whose chief, Mulayam Singh Yadav, on Friday expelled his son, Akhilesh Yadav, for six years.

Akhilesh Yadav is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, which votes soon. Mulayam Singh said he's hunting now for his son's replacement in office.

Akhilesh Yadav's favourite uncle, Ram Gopal Yadav, has also been expelled and said the duo's plans will be made clear by Sunday, though Akhilesh Yadav has called a meeting of party legislators at 9.30 am this morning.

"The Samajwadi Party is led by a large-hearted father, Mulayam recognizes that Akhilesh is the future of the party," said Samajwadi spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia to NDTV, expressing hope in a reconciliation as the outfit seeks a second consecutive term in power. "If he apologizes, we will see," said Mulayam Singh to reporters about his son, who, he said, had acted unforgivably in releasing his own list of candidates for the election after his suggestions and choices were ignored in the party's official roster.

"This expulsion is unconstitutional," said Ram Gopal Yadav, alleging that of late, the Samajwadi Party has made a practice of ignoring its playbook. "Half an hour after we were given notice, we were expelled. Even a criminal is given a chance to explain," he said.

The maximalist move of Akhilesh Yadav's expulsion comes after months of political knuckle-baring between the top members of the Yadav family. Mentored by Ram Gopal, who is his father's cousin, Akhilesh has contended with a constant undermining of his decisions by Mulayam Singh and his brother, Shivpal Yadav. Among his recent thwarted initiatives, the lobbying for an alliance with the Congress for the state election, and a request to shun politicians with criminal backgrounds as candidates.

The last election in 2012 was won largely on account of Akhilesh Yadav's youthful cycle-riding campaign. He promised development, jobs and good governance, all reduced to a drip feed by predecessors including his father.

In October, Shivpal and Akhilesh Yadav swore so angrily at each other at a party meeting that Mulayam Singh left the venue in anger, though then, as on other occasions, he made it clear that he sided with his brother over his son.