On Wednesday, UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav sacked minister and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav's friend Balram Yadav
After sacking a minister who had negotiated the Samajwadi Party's merger with jailed gangster Mukhtar Ansari's party, Akhilesh Yadav today signaled a climb-down, claiming that there are "no differences" within his party.
"There are absolutely no differences. This is all a media creation," the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister told reporters after a cabinet meeting.
"Whatever decisions are taken, are by the party," he said.
On Wednesday, Mr Yadav appeared to fight his family, and not for the first time.
His powerful uncle Shivpal Yadav, a state minister, was instrumental in the merger with Mukhtar Ansari's Quami Ekta Dal, despite the objections of Akhilesh Yadav, who is dead against criminals joining the party ahead of the state polls next year.
But the chief minister, on returning from a district tour on Tuesday, sacked a different minister - party veteran and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav's friend Balram Yadav - over the merger.
Yesterday, Shivpal Yadav met Akhilesh for over an hour. Later, he accused the media of exaggerating any tension. "Whatever has happened about the merger happened with the consent of Mulayam Singhji. As far as the minister's sacking is concerned, it is the prerogative of the chief minister whom he keeps and whom he drops," he said
The BJP's Uttar Pradesh head Keshav Prasad Maurya calls it "family drama".
He said: "It is all orchestrated. First the father and the uncle get something done. Akhilesh appears outraged, then it is slowly settled. It's just a big drama."