Post resignation, Shivpal urges his supporters to stand in Netaji's support

Shivpal Singh Yadav, who yesterday resigned from all posts of the Uttar Pradesh Government held by him and the Samajwadi Party (SP), on Friday urged his supporters to work towards strengthening the party.

Scores of Shivpal's supporters gathered outside his official residence at Kalidas Marg here this morning and raised slogans in his support.

The supporters also demanded the ouster of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and senior Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav.

"Restore Shivpal's honours.return all departments to him---return the SP state presidentship," the supporters chanted.

However, Shivpal asked his supporters to work towards strengthening the party and stand united in support of Mulayam Singh Yadav.

"We've to work towards strengthening the party, I urge you all to go to the party office where Netaji will be coming. We all stand by Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav). 'Unka sandesh humare liye adesh hai.' (His message is a command for us)," he told his supporters.

Shivpal, who held a clutch of important departments, quit the government as well as his position as chief of Samajwadi Party's state unit yesterday.

However, the Chief Minister rejected Shivpal's resignation from the cabinet.

The development came after a day after the Samajwadi Party boss and the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister held separate meetings with Shivpal.

Earlier on September 13, Akhilesh stripped Shivpal of key ministerial portfolios, hours after Mulayam replaced him with his uncle as the party's state unit chief.

Samajwadi Party general secretary Ramgopal had after meeting the Chief Minister yesterday claimed that the latter is not angry with anyone, adding Mulayam's decision is final in the party.

He said that "differences" had arisen due to some "misunderstanding" even as he made a veiled attack on Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh.

Earlier, Shivpal had reportedly announced the party's first list of 142 candidates for the 2017 assembly polls.

Disagreements between Akhilesh and his uncle have been reported on several occasions, including on the choice of official to be appointed as the state's chief secretary after Alok Ranjan's term ended and the postponement of Qaumi Ekta Dal's merger with Samajwadi Party.