We are united; there is no rift in Samajwadi Party: Akhilesh

Indicating a rapprochement, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said he will extend all support to his uncle Shivpal, with whom he was locked in a bitter turf war that spilled out into the open following Shivpal’s appointment as SP’s state unit president.

“We are united, there is no rift in Samajwadi Party,” UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said after meeting his uncle Shivpal in the state capital on Saturday. “I had tea with my ‘chacha’ and not party’s state chief,” Akhilesh further added to end all speculations of an ongoing power struggle between the two. “I have myself congratulated SP’s UP unit president Shivpal Yadav after meeting him at his residence…. I will extend all my support to Shivpalji,” Akhilesh added.

Akhilesh’s remarks came a day after he said that he felt “very sad” when he was replaced with Shivpal as the state party president by his father and party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and demanded that he be given a say in the ticket distribution for the 2017 Assembly election.

On Friday night, he announced that his uncle will be given back his portfolios and Gayatri Prajapati will be reinducted as Cabinet minister, issues which had triggered an all-out war between the two. Mulayam on Friday met both Akhilesh and brother Shivpal to work out a truce between them. Asked about his demand on ticket distribution, Akhilesh on Saturday said: “It’s going to be my examination (in elections). I will certainly say that much to the national president whom I like.”

“Politics is not a game for me, it is a serious business. I am a player… have played football and cricket also… I don’t score self goal,” he said. About protests by his supporters, Akhilesh added: “I have appealed them not to engage in any sloganeering or use any posters or hoardings. It’s election time and everyone should go to booth level and spread awareness on the good work done by the government.”

“Wherever the youth go, the direction changes. We have a great organisation,” he said. Apparently attacking BJP, he said that “some parties” are “expert” in propaganda and “they have got a chance. They must be happy that samajwadis are fighting”. When asked about his meeting with Shivpal, he said in a lighter vein: “You can say anything. You are saying I had lunch there, but I only had tea”. On party’s poll prospects, he said: “Samajwadis are at number one. The surveys are pointing to it. When we only promised to work in 2012, we got tremendous support and now we have fulfilled all the promises. We will form government again.” Earlier, hundreds of Akhilesh supporters gathered outside party office and later at Mulayam Singh’s residence.