Yadav family feud escalates: Akhilesh Yadav may launch his own party

Uttar Pardesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is likely to launch a separate party on Sunday. According to sources, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's son Akhilesh will make the announcement before the party meet on October 24. 

The UP CM has called for a meeting of MLAs and MLCs at his residence at around 10am. If 50 per cent of people agree to the proposal Akhilesh will launch a separate party, sources said. 

Akhilesh Yadav has been in a long tussle with his uncle Shivpal Yadav over party leadership ahead of next assembly elections due in 2017. Mulayam Singh Yadav has so far been unable to resolve the issue despite repeated mitigations. 

Also read: Akhilesh Yadav skips key party meeting called to strategise assembly polls

The matter further escalated on Saturday when Akhilesh's close aide Udayveer Singh was suspended from the party for writing a letter to Mulayam, asking him to step aside and make Akhilesh the party chief. 

Also read: Akhilesh Yadav's loyalist Udayveer Singh removed from Samajwadi Party for 6 years