UP CM sacks Shivpal, 3 other ministers; crisis deepens in SP

Deepening the crisis in SP, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today sacked four pro-Amar Singh ministers including his uncle Shivpal Yadav, almost pushing the ruling party to the brink of a split.
The trouble in SP hit a new low this morning with the chief minister convening a meeting of party legislators here and recommending to Governor Ram Naik that Shivpal, Narad Rai and Om Prakash Singh (all Cabinet ministers) and Sayeda Shadab Fatima (MoS - Independent charge) be sacked from his ministry.
A Raj Bhawan communique said the recommendation was accepted with immediate effect.
Following the extreme action against supporters of Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh, the Mulayam-camp followers got into a huddle at the residence of the SP supremo at a stone's throw distance from the CM's bungalow to decide the next course of action.

The fast-paced developments came a day ahead of a mega meeting of party MPs, MLAs, MLCs and ministers convened by Mulayam where some tough decisions are likely to be taken.
Today's actions stirred the political circles ahead of the Assembly polls in the state early next year as the tense stand-off between Akhilesh and Shivpal gave rise to intense speculation about a possible split in SP.

Party legislators who met at the residence of the chief
minister were said to be in a belligerent mood, opposing any action that could sideline Akhilesh in the run-up to the Assembly polls.
The tenor of the delegates was to crack the whip on supporters of Amar Singh, whose induction into the party two months ago had triggered a similar hullabaloo, according to party sources.

That time too, 43-year-old Akhilesh had sacked his 61-year-old uncle Shivpal, exercising his authority much to the chagrin of his father, who leads the Samajawadi Party and has been promoting Shivpal over his son.
According to the sources, the hard stance adopted by both sides could lead to a vertical split in the party as chances of rapprochement between the warring factions appeared remote.
Meanwhile, senior SP leader Ramgopal Yadav has written to Mulayam, saying those opposing Akhilesh will not see the face of the Assembly. "Where there is Akhilesh, there is victory," said Ramgopal, a cousin of Mulayam, describing Akhilesh as the "true and most popular leader" of the party.

The developments came at a time the Samajwadi Party was preparing for its silver jubilee celebration on November 5, an event which Akhilesh could give a miss as he is all set to embark on a 'rath yatra' on November 3.
Meanwhile, BJP's UP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya said Chief Minister Akhilesh should resign or prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly. "A govt reduced to minority should not take any policy decision," he said.
BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said, "The ongoing theatrics within SP is an exercise of shrouding their sins. The party has become a sinking ship which has failed on every front. Mafia raj prevailed during Akhilesh's tenure. He could not keep promise of providing roads, electricity, drinking water, even healthcare is in doldrums."

"However, change is inevitable in Uttar Pradesh. People of the state are set to evince trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah during the forthcoming polls," Sharma said.
Akhilesh has already made it clear in a letter to Mulayam that he would be proceeding on his 'rath yatra' on November 3 to highlight the development work done by his government.
As bitterness grew within the Mulayam clan, the SP chief had yesterday expelled MLC Udayveer Singh, one of the closest aides of Akhilesh, from the party for "undignified" conduct days after he wrote to the SP patriarch suggesting to him to elevate the UP CM as the party's national president.

"Udayveer Singh has been expelled from the party for six years for his undignified and indisciplined behaviour," state party spokesman Ambika Chaudhary had said.
"The party will not tolerate undignified behaviour and indiscipline. It has reached where it is in 25 years because of discipline," according to Chaudhary.
In a four-page letter to the party supremo earlier this week, Udayveer had said, "SP state president Shivpal Yadav and other members of his family have misled you (Mulayam) and hatched a conspiracy against CM Akhilesh, who should be made party national president and given all the powers."
Udayveer's association with Akhilesh is over three decades old, with both studying in school together. He had reportedly also made some comments about Mulayam's second wife and Chief Minister's step mother, which angered the SP's first family.