BJP says Mulayam responsible for Samajwadi Party rift

A senior spokesperson of the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), I P Singh, on Monday held Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav responsible for the political crisis in the party.

"We can see that now the future of Mulayam Singh's political career has ended. The latest political crisis in Samajwadi Party is due to Mulayam Singh Yadav. He has signed his own political death warrant," Singh told ANI.

On Sunday, after being expelled from the cabinet, Samajwadi Party state president Shivpal Yadav expelled party general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav from his position and the party for six years.

"Ramgopal is involved with the BJP; he met BJP leaders thrice in the last few days. He is doing such things because his son Akshay Yadav and daughter-in-law are involved in a scam. To protect himself and his son, they are planning a conspiracy as per the direction of the BJP," Shivpal told a press conference here.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav sacked four ministers, including his uncle Shivpal Yadav from the state cabinet.

Narad Rai, Saiyyada Shadab Fatima and O.P. Singh were the other three leaders shown the door by the chief minister.