Samajwadi Party feud: Who is with whom as party divide deepens?

Ahead of the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party is witnessing a lot of differences within the party. The face-off between Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and UP CM Akhilesh Yadav has worsened as the day progressed on Sunday. Both of them sacked each other’s loyalists Shivpal Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav.

On the Mulayam’s side, there are leaders like Shivpal Yadav, Amar Singh, Prateek Yadav, Beni Prasad Verma and Rewati Raman whereas Ram Gopal Yadav, Dimple Yadav and Akshay Yadav are on Akhilesh’s side. Azam Khan is among those who have not chosen to be on any side. He is acting like a fence-sitter so far.

Earlier, Ram Gopal Yadav, an Akhilesh’s loyalist, was suspended from all posts and party for six years. "I have always helped party workers and poor. I not not upset on removal from party but saddened by the personal attacks. I may be in or out of the party but am always with Akhilesh," said Ram Gopal Yadav.

The series of events unfolded on Sunday morning when deepening the crisis in SP, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav sacked four pro-Amar Singh ministers including his uncle Shivpal Yadav, almost pushing the ruling party to the brink of a split. Akhilesh also gave clear orders to Chief Secy Anita Singh and DGP to not issue any orders without his prior signatures.

The trouble in SP hit a new low 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. 

(With PTI inputs)