UP elections: Akhilesh, Ram Gopal Yadav expelled from SP, Mulayam says wanted to save party

The ruling SP was on the precipice of a split on Friday with party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav expelling his son and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and general secretary Ramgopal Yadav for six years after they put up candidates against the official nominees and summoned a party meet on Sunday. 

The action, dubbed by a defiant Ramgopal, Mulayam's cousin, as "unconstitutional", as the party plunged into an unprecedented crisis raising questions over the fate of the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. 

On a day of fast-moving developments, hordes of frenzied Akhilesh supporters, especially the youth, thronged his residence to express their support. 

Making the announcement at a press conference in Lucknow, Mulayam said the new chief minister will be chosen by the Samajwadi Party. 

With his brother Shivpal Yadav, who has been at loggerheads with the Akhilesh, by his side, Mulayam said he had taken the action against Akhilesh and Ramgopal to save the party which he had built through hard efforts. 

"We have to save the party. The party comes first. That is why we are expelling both Akhilesh and Ramgopal," Mulayam said.

He explained that the decision was taken after Ramgopal, in his capacity as general secretary, called an emergency meeting of the party on January 1 and Akhilesh "supported" it. 

Want to urge party workers to come to RM Lohiya University on Jan 1 at 11am to discuss as to how to stop those doing wrong in party-RG Yadav pic.twitter.com/kdfzVdRvzO

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 30, 2016

Ramgopal called the meeting after a showcause notice was issued to him and Akhilesh by Mulayam for releasing a list of candidates, parallel to the one issued officially by Mulayam. 

"How can he (Akhilesh) release the list when the party has declared its candidates? Both Akhilesh and Ramgopal want to finish the party. I will not let it happen. I have built this party through hard work," Mulayam said. "I had made Akhilesh the chief minister with much fanfare," he added. 

With regard to the emergency meeting called by Ramgopal on Sunday, Mulayam said only the party president has the power to convene such a meeting. "The party cannot run on Ramgopal's whims," Mulayam said. 

Here are the key developments:

#Akhilesh Yadav to hold meeting with Samajwadi Party MLAs on Saturday at 9am. Will address party workers at 12pm 

#You must have heard 'baap bada na bhaiya,' but in this case it is 'beta bada na bhaiya': S Trivedi on UP CM's expulsion from SP

#More than 100 MLAs throng CM Akhilesh Yadav's residence

Lucknow: Protesters tear down the posters of Shivpal Singh Yadav after Akhilesh Yadav was expelled from the party for 6 years pic.twitter.com/MivvuqJpQa

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 30, 2016

#An Akhilesh supporter attempts suicide by pouring kerosene on himself: Reports

#Raj Bhawan on high alert following Mulayam's announcement: Source

#Security tightened outside the residences of Mulayam, AKhilesh and Shivpal: Source

#Lucknow Police put on alert in view of the political turmoil in Uttar Pradesh: Source

#There is situation of pol instability in UP,it's worrisome for democracy;we dont comment on internal division of any party: RS Surjewala, Congress

Lucknow: Protesters tear down the posters of Shivpal Singh Yadav after Akhilesh Yadav was expelled from the party for 6 years pic.twitter.com/MivvuqJpQa

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 30, 2016

#UP people had already waved Akhilesh off, his expulsion doesn't have much impact: Shrikant Sharma

#Lucknow-Supporters gather outside Akhilesh Yadav's residence, raise slogans in his support after SP Chief expelled UP CM for 6 yrs frm party

#It is unfortunate. However it is their internal matter: Sharad Yadav, JD (U) on Ram Gopal and Akhilesh Yadav expelled from party

#In family-centered parties, if the family breaks up, the party also falls apart: Shrikant Sharma, BJP

#WATCH Supporters gather outside Akhilesh Yadav's residence, raise slogans in his support after SP Chief expelled him for 6 years from party pic.twitter.com/x5OFePsLVD

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 30, 2016

#Want to urge party workers to come to RM Lohiya University on Jan 1 at 11am to discuss as to how to stop those doing wrong in party-RG Yadav

#It's unconstitutional to expel someone without listening to them just hours after issuing show-cause notice-Ram Gopal Yadav on his expulsion

#This is unconstitutional as both of us were expelled 2 hours after they gave the notice & without listening to our answers: Ram Gopal Yadav

#UP CM Akhilesh Yadav expelled for six years from Samajwadi Party; Supporters gather outside his residence

#I have worked really hard to make this party, what was their role in this? I work hard and they reap the fruits?: Mulayam

#To save the party, we have expelled both Ram Gopal and Akhilesh Yadav for six years from the party: Mulayam

#For us party is the most important and our priority is to save the party: SP Chief

# Akhilesh Yadav has been expelled from the party for six years: Mulayam

# Chief minister is indulging in groupism within the party: Mulayam

# Akhilesh is putting his own existence at risk: Mulayam

# Akhilesh should be a neutral entity as a chief minister but he has failed to read the situation: Mulayam

ALSO READ | Live updates: SP feud escalates, Mulayam expells Akhilesh, Ram Gopal from party for 6 years

# Ram Gopal Yadav has been expelled from the party for six years: Mulayam

# Akhilesh has indulged in indecipline and this is an attempt to hurt the party: Mulayam

# I am the national president of the Samajwadi Party: Mulayam Singh

#WATCH Akhilesh kya maafi mangega woh toh ladta hai, pita (father) manta hoga toh dekha jayega, says SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav pic.twitter.com/3RODK9uQKQ

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 30, 2016

(With inputs from PTI)