Akhilesh yet to learn a lot, says uncle Shivpal

Senior Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav on Friday said though Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and his nephew Akhilesh Yadav holds the highest post in the state, he has still a lot to learn.

"I have a longer experience with Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav), I have been with Netaji since the age of 15. Everybody can't be the same. Everybody can't become Akhilesh or Netaji or for that matter, Shivpal," Shivpal said at the India TV Conclave "Chunav Manch" here.

He took exception to Akhilesh Yadav's assertion made earlier on Friday that the "role of outsiders would not be tolerated".

"He (Mulayam) said about 'beech waale' (middlemen). They come and sit with me, they also go and sit with him. There are many such people who are cabinet ministers but do not do any work," Shivpal said.

Asked whether the problem in the family was Amar Singh, Shivpal said: "I don't think so, and it should not be so. Akhilesh needs cooperation from all. Everybody has a darker side, a brighter side too.

"Even Akhilesh has people closer to him, I have people closer to me, even Netaji has people closer to him. So 'outsiders' are always there with everybody. One should apply one's wit," the Samajwadi Party leader said.

Shivpal also asserted that his resignation from the state party chief post has been rejected by party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and he holds the position now.

"Woh (resignation) asweekar ho gaya hai. Netaji ka sanket hi mere liye aadesh hai, Akhilesh ne bhi keh diya hai, toh phir jhagda kahaan bachaa? (For me, Netaji's indication itself is an order for me... Akhilesh has also said so, so where is the feud anymore)," he said.

The senior party leader was, however, not forthcoming over his resignation from the state government.

"Look, I have resigned only recently. I have got a bigger responsibility. Elections are near, and I have to work for it. Whoever looks after the portfolios... I had only one portfolio left, so I said, why this single portfolio," he said.

"I will work for the party. We will not allow the party to be weakened at any cost. We will form a government with a bigger majority in 2017," he added.

Asked why Akhilesh Yadav took away his portfolios if he thought his performance was good, Shivpal said that "everybody accepts that I have performed better".

"He (Akhilesh) wanted all districts to be connected with four-lane roads. I got 50 districts connected with four-lane roads in the last three years. As far as taking away portfolios is concerned, it's the Chief Minister's prerogative," Shivpal said.

--IANS

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