Yadav family feud: From Akhilesh's tears to Shivpal's mic snatching – here's how the high-voltage drama unfolded

The feud in UP’s ruling Samajwadi Party on Monday came out into the open with a high-voltage drama unfolding in full public view during which party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav sided with his younger brother Shivpal and friend Amar Singh, and reprimanded son Akhilesh Yadav but ruled out his removal as Chief Minister.

Amid speculation about a possible split ahead of the assembly polls, the bitter power struggle in SP’s first family played out on stage at a meeting called by its supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav of party legislators, MPs and other leaders where Akhilesh, blowing hot and cold, first offered to step down in a choked voice but later accused Amar Singh and those close to him of hatching a “conspiracy” against him and his father.

Shivpal meets Akhilesh; the two jointly meet Mulayam later

Hours after branding nephew Akhilesh Yadav a liar, UP Samajwadi Party chief Shivpal Yadav made a dramatic appearance at the Chief Minister’s residence Monday night, in an apparent attempt at rapprochement. What exactly transpired between the nephew-uncle duo could not be known immediately as there was no word from them or their aides.

Live updates on Yadav family feud: Shivpal Yadav meets Akhilesh Yadav at CM residence in Lucknow

Party observers said the meeting could have been at the behest of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, who had earlier in the day wished that Akhilesh and Shivpal transcended all differences and hugged each other at a key SP meeting at the party headquarters here this morning.

Both of them later drove in the same car to see Mulayam who retired for the day amid reports that he was having a severe toothache.

Mulayam, Akhilesh exchange heated words

Acrimony, bitter exchanges and personal attacks marked a meeting of Samajwadi Party leaders, bringing to the fore the high-voltage power struggle in the first family with Akhilesh Yadav and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav trading barbs while the chief minister was accused of planning to float a party, a charge he denied.

Cut up with his son, Mulayam Singh Yadav put up a strong defence of his brother Shivpal Yadav, who was sacked by Akhilesh yesterday from his cabinet, and General Secretary Amar Singh but ruled out replacing the chief minister, who offered to quit.

The political drama was also punctuated by clashes between rival factions outside and inside the venue and after the abrupt end to the meeting of the legislators, MPs and ministers.

There were sharp exchanges between Akhilesh and Mulayam, who virtually dismissed him as an insignificant entity in UP politics who could not win an election without his support.

“What is your capability? Can you win elections?” he said, snapping at Akhilesh. 

Akhilesh is a 'liar', says Shivpal; snatches CM's mike

There were ugly scenes and name-calling, with Shivpal Yadav, the state SP chief, snatching microphone from Akhilesh and calling him a liar, only to make a dramatic appearance at the Chief Minister’s residence hours later. The nephew-uncle duo drove in the same car to meet party patriarch Mulayam, who was said to be having a severe toothache, surprising many.

Party observers said the meeting could have been at the behest of Mulayam, who had earlier in the day wished that Akhilesh and Shivpal transcended all differences and hugged each other.

The bile-filled exchanges between top SP leaders came a day after the continuing battle of attrition between Akhilesh and his uncle Shivpal Yadav saw the Chief Minister sacking Shivpal and three other ministers close to him, and Mulayam striking back with vengeance expelling from the party for six years his cousin Ram Gopal Yadav. Ram Gopal, a Rajya Sabha member, has been backing Akhilesh in his fight against Shivpal.

Addressing the gathering Akhilesh ruled out forming a new party, a claim which Shivpal disputed, saying he was prepared to “swear” by his son and “Ganga Jal” that the Chief Minister had told him he would indeed float a new party and contest the assembly polls in alliance with some political party.

Akhilesh ruled out forming any new party

Seeking to put at rest speculation, Akhilesh ruled out forming any new party and offered to step down if Mulayam Singh Yadav wanted.

Akhilesh breaks down

With his father and uncle watching, he broke down while addressing the meeting. “Let ‘netaji’ (Mulayam) install a chief minister who he feels is honest,” he said. “Why should I form a new party?” he posed in an emotionally choked voice.

At the meeting Akhilesh said all these years he had toiled hard for the welfare of the people “Merey pita, merey guru hain (my father is my guru)” he said.

SP expels 10 Akhilesh supporters for shouting slogans against Shivpal Yadav

The Samajwadi Party expelled 10 party workers on Monday for shouting slogans against Shivpal Yadav who is engaged in a power struggle with chief minister and his nephew Akhilesh Yadav. 

During a meeting convened by party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav to find a solution to the ongoing rift between the two leaders, a group of Akhilesh supporters raised slogans against Shivpal. 

Amid the unruly scenes at the meeting, another SP MLC Ashu Malik accused MLA Pawan Pandey of manhandling. Malik alleged that Pandey thrashed him and tried to kill him. He said that he will file an FIR in this regard.