What began as usual family politics, turned into a clash of egos that paved the way for one-upmanship and has finally led to a war that threatens to implode the Samajwadi Party. The party that will enter its silver jubilee year next month is now facing a full blown revolt from the ranks, with the leadership of its president Mulayam Singh Yadav being questioned by political newbies in the party.
The widely publicised tiff between uncle Shivpal Yadav and nephew Akhilesh Yadav, also Chief Minister of UP, which began about two years ago but was carefully kept under wraps, has now turned into a direct confrontation between father Mulayam Singh Yadav and son Akhilesh Yadav.
The merger of the Qaumi Ekta Dal and the reinstatement of Gayatri Prajapati in the state Cabinet were done much against the wishes of Akhilesh. The young CM was apparently provoked to act by one of his uncles, two cousins, two bureaucrats and one journalist, known to be close to him.
The war between father and son finally intensified when Akhilesh recently gave an interview, referring apparently to the manner in which he was left to fend for himself from his childhood, Akhilesh said, “I had to decide on my name on my own and also learnt to fight for survival in the 14 years that I spent in hostel.”
Akhilesh’s statement forced Mulayam Singh to call a press conference and talk about his family. A visibly distraught Mulayam said, “Akhilesh’s mother used to be unwell and I was busy in politics so my sister brought him up and then when he started going to school, it was Shivpal and his wife who took care of him. As for keeping his own name—what is so great about it? Even Dharmendra (Yadav) kept his own name and informed me about it.”
Akhilesh Yadav apparently wants full control of the party as well as the government—something that the patriarch is not willing to give. Akhilesh supporters who raised slogans against Mulayam when Shivpal was appointed state president last month, were promptly expelled but Akhilesh has now given the Janeshwar Misra Trust office, which is behind the SP state office, to the expelled leaders from where they continue with their “anti-party and pro-Akhilesh activities”. Akhilesh is demanding the revocation of the expulsion of the youth leaders but Mulayam is unrelenting.
Akhilesh also wants to take the final decision on giving tickets, but his father is unwilling. The CM wants to be re-appointed as state president, but the party high command has refused. Akhilesh , who has got a new bungalow for himself, which he will occupy as former CM—if he does not get re-elected—now makes no bones about the strife in the party. Sources insist that he could even be planning to float a new party with the support of the youth leaders. “Abhi tak cycle thi, ab motorcycle hogi”, said one of his aides, hinting that the motorcycle could be their new party symbol.
The proverbial final straw came this week when Akhilesh wrote a letter to his father “informing” him that he was embarking on the election campaign from 3 November. This implied he would not be present at the silver jubilee function of the party on 5 November in Lucknow.