Amar Singh urges SP workers to back Mulayam

Blamed for the onging infighting in the Samajwadi Party (SP), its leader Amar Singh on Saturday dubbed the recent developments as "very unfortunate" and urged his supporters to back party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

"Whatever is happening in the Samajwadi Party is very unfortunate. I appeal to party members to stand with Neta ji (Mulayam Singh)," he said.

The SP leader quipped: "Ram Chandra keh gaye Siya se aisa Kalyug aayega, beta karega raj bechara baap jungal jayega."

Amar Singh was admitted into the SP fold after a long exile. He is considered close to Mulayam Singh but does not have the same equation with his son and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, whose supporters have blamed him for the political rift between Akhilesh and his father.

Mulayam Singh on Friday expelled the Chief Minister and party General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav for six years for "indiscipline and anti-party activities" after the latter called for an emergency meeting of the SP's National Council on January 1.

The latest round of the crisis was sparked when Mulayam Singh released the names of candidates for the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, ignoring Akhilesh's recommendations. The Chief Minister hit back by releasing his own list of candidates.

Amar Singh said the party foundation was laid by Mulayamn Singh with much dedication and hard work.

"I have said this earlier, and I am saying it again -- Mulayam Singh Yadav ji is the father of the Samajwadi Party and also the father of Akhilesh Yadav," he said.

He also condemned Samajwadi Party workers protesting against the party chief and said: "Those who are going against him (Mulayam) are immoral and wrong and I condemn them."

Earlier on Saturday, Akhilesh held a meeting with party legislators at his official residence in state capital Lucknow. Later, he went to meet Mulayam Singh Yadav, who had called a party's Parliamentary Board meeting later in the day.

--IANS

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