Will take decision after having word with Mulayam Singh: Shivpal Yadav

After Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav removed his uncle and party member Shivpal Yadav from all key ministerial portfolios, the latter on Wednesday said he would follow the decision of the party and carry out the work assigned to him with dedication.

"I will take forward the responsibility that has been given to me by Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav). I am with the people of Uttar Prdaesh, Samajwadi Party and Netaji. Whatever decision Netaji will take, I will support it. I will carry out the party's work and will stay among the people. The election is nearby and I am sure that the people of Uttar Pradesh will support the Samajwadi Party," Yadav said while addressing the media.

While commenting on the decision taken by Akhilesh Yadav, Shivpal said it is a right of a chief minister to select their cabinet ministers and to assign them the responsibility and the Uttar Pradesh chief has done the same.

Akhilesh Yadav yesterday divested Shivpal of all important ministerial portfolios including PWD, irrigation, cooperative, flood control and revenue and handed him the social welfare department.

Prior to it, Shivpal had replaced him as its new chief in Uttar Pradesh on the instructions of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

The development came hours after Akhilesh shunted out state chief secretary Deepak Singhal, considered close to Shivpal and replaced him with Rahul Bhatnagar.

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 Quami Ekta Dal's merger with the Samajwadi Party.

The move comes at a time when the state is gearing up for assembly elections which is scheduled to take place next year.