Samajwadi Party feud continues: Akhilesh Yadav to embark on 'Rath Yatra' from Nov 3, might skip party's silver jubilee

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday written a letter to Samajwadi Party chief and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav and announced his decision to embark on 'Samajwadi Vikas Rath Yatra' alone from November 3.

In a letter written to party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Chief Minister expressed disappointment over not starting ‘Samajwadi Vikas Rath Yatra’ on its slated date. The ‘Yatra’ is part of party campaign for the next assembly election in 2017. 

#AkhileshYadav writes a letter to Samajwadi Party chief and his father #MulayamSinghYadav to embark on 'Samajwadi Vikas Rath Yatra' pic.twitter.com/GM88aHoKls

— News Nation (@NewsNationTV) October 19, 2016

 The CM has mentioned that all the other parties have already started their election campaign.  He also said that the detailed itinerary will be sent to all the heads of districts and party workers at an appropriate time. 

The announcement gave rise to speculation that Akhilesh might skip his party's silver jubilee celebrations which begins in Lucknow from November 5.

Party insiders said any attempt to derail or stop him from going ahead with the Yatra could lead to another crisis in the party.

Earlier in the day, Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav held a closed-door meeting at Mulayam Singh Yadav's Vikramaditya Marg residence to discuss poll strategy.

According to party sources, Akhilesh is adamant on his demands of revoking the expulsion of youth leaders, some of whom are MLCs, and having his say in the ticket distribution. 

Akhilesh had earlier announced his decision to take out the yatra from October 3 through his twitter handle with a picture in which he was seen sitting inside a bus.

It was seen as a move to counter uncle Shivpal, who had been appointed the new state party president in his place.
Akhilesh hit back over his removal from the party post by stripping Shivpal of his key ministerial portfolios, bringing the family feud in the open.

(With PTI inputs)