Akhilesh Yadav new chairman of SP’s state parliamentary board, to have crucial say in ticket distribution

Capping hectic political developments in Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav has been made the chairman of the party’s state parliamentary board. It is the party's parliamentary board which takes final decision on ticket distribution. In his additional responsibility as chairman of the SP Parliamentary Board, Akhilesh will  have a cruicial say in the entire ticket distribution process for the upcoming assembly elections in the state early next year.

It seems that UP CM AKhilesh has had a last laugh in the ongoing feud in the Samajwadi pariwar. After an almost week-long political brinkmanship that brought chacha Shivpal Yadav and bhatija Akhilesh in an unprecedented face off , it was left to the Samajwadi patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav hit upon a compromise formula. It seems Mulayam has quelled the tide for now as both sides (read Shivpal and Akhilesh) appear to have sunk their differences.

This is precisely what Akhilesh wanted – - the power to decide who gets the ticket for the next assembly polls - as a quid pro quo to reinstating chacha Shivpal in his cabinet and continue to let him head the party state unit.

Earlier in the day, Akhilesh Yadav signalled rapproachement when he said that he went to congratulate his chacha Shivpal Yadav and not state party chief at the latter's residence on Saturday. Akhilesh addressed media persons in Lucknow to clarify that that is no rift in the party. Akhilesh has kept Shivpal's PWD department and has returned his previous departments with Medical education and minor irrigation.

Earlier on Saturday, the members of Yuvjan Sabha came out in support of Akhilesh in Lucknow and demanded that the UP CM should be reinstated as the Samajwadi Party state unit chief.

However, Akhilesh supporters have been warned of stern action by the party high command. On the other hand, the supporters on Saturday gathered outside Shivpal’s residence. Shivraj came out of his home and met his supporters.

ALSO READ: Shivpal Yadav, Prajapati to be reinstated in Akhilesh cabinet

Here are the live updates:

# Akhilesh Yadav is the new chairman of SP’s state parliamentary board, will have a veto power in ticket distribution in upcoming UP elections

# We are united, there is no rift in Samajwadi party: Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav.

# Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) ka aadesh sarvamanniya hai:  Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav

# Hum sabko mil kar kaam karne ki zaroorat hai taakki virodhiyon ko mauka na miley: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav

# I have congratulated him (Shivpal Yadav) on being made UP chief of Samajwadi Party, says Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav

# Akhilesh Yadav: Politics is not a game for me

# UP CM Akhilesh Yadav keeps Shivpal's PWD department, returns Shivpal his previous departments with Medical education and minor irrigation 

# Shivpal Yadav to continue as the Samajwadi Party State President

# Gayatri Prasad Prajapati to be re-inducted in the Uttar Pradesh cabinet, will take oath soon 

  UP: Supporters of Shivpal Singh & Akhilesh Yadav create ruckus outside Shivpal’s residence in Lucknow. pic.twitter.com/9B4vKWBPC9

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 17, 2016

UP: Supporters of Akhilesh Yadav stage dharna outside Mulayam Singh Yadav’s residence in Lucknow. pic.twitter.com/s4AxGEKq9P

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 17, 2016

UP: Akhilesh Yadav's supporters demand that he be made UP chief of Samajwadi Party again. pic.twitter.com/2FjSHUgoYK

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 17, 2016

UP: Akhilesh Yadav's supporters demand that he be made UP chief of Samajwadi Party again. pic.twitter.com/sMoNSQIIOd

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 17, 2016

#Shivpal and Akhilesh supporters come face to face, raise slogans against each other

#Youth front gherao party office

#Slogans raised in support of Akhilesh Yadav. 

Donning red caps and carrying posters of the Chief Minister and his wife Dimple Yadav, the supporters started for the party office this morning, raising slogans like “Akhilesh ko adyaksh banao” (make Akhilesh the state president), saying only “Akhilesh bhaiya could lead the party”.

Akhilesh had on Friday announced that his disgruntled uncle Shivpal will be given back his portfolios and Gayatri Prajapati will be reinducted as Cabinet minister, issues which had triggered an all-out war in the party.

ALSO READ: Will accept whatever Mulayam says, Shivpal Yadav on his resignation from govt

The head of four frontal organisation of Samajwadi Party-Chhatra Sabha, Lohia Vahini, Yuvjan Sabha and MSY Youth Brigade, according to sources, have also written to party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav demanding that Akhilesh be reinstated as the state unit chief.

“We have conveyed our feelings to Netaji (Mulayam) that we (all youth frontal organisations) will not be able to work with anyone except Akhilesh. We want him back as state president. Youth is feeling dejected after his removal, they are depressed and even ready to immolate themselves in his favour,” Mohd Aibad, President Mulayam Singh Yadav Youth Brigade, said.

ALSO READ: I did not ignite any feud in Samajwadi Party, says Akhilesh Yadav

MLCs Rajpal Kashyap and Anand Bhadauria, who had in past held posts in SP’s front organisations, also raised slogans in his favour.

“Nejati on many occasions has said the youth should lead.  We want him to bring back Akhilesh who is undisputed leader of youth and poor and has done a lot for the development of state,” Kashyap said.The supporters of Shivpal are also reaching the party headquarters in Lucknow. Akhilesh had on Friday expressed his desire to have a say in ticket distribution for 2017 polls and had termed the elections as his “pariksha” (test).