The rift in the Uttar Pradesh's Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's family is taking ugly turns. Mulayam's son, Chief Minister Akhilesh, his brothers Shivpal Singh Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav are involved in this family feud. Here is the timeline happenings of the family war.
THE BEGINNING OF THE FAMILY FEUD
Aug 15: Akhilesh calls off merger with Qaumi Ekta Dal, led by gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari. Angered by this decision, Angered by this decision, Shivpal threatens to quit the party. But Mulayam Singh Yadav stops him from quitting the party
Sep 13: Akhilesh removes chief secretary Deepak Singhal, considered to be close to Shivpal. Shivpal again threatens to quit the party. Akhilesh quits as party’s state unit chief and Shivpal is appointed as state unit chief after Akhilesh quits. Akhilesh strips Shivpal of his portfolios.
AKHILESH, RAM GOPAL SAY, NO RIFT IN PARTY
Sep 14: Akhilesh tells media, “This is a fight in government, not a family fight. If people from outside the family interfere, how things will work?”, speculatively referring to party’s Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh. Earlier Amar Singh was accused of creating rift between Akhilesh and Shivpal.
Sep 15: Mulayam and Ram Gopal say, there is no rift in the party. Akhilesh sacks two ministers Gayatri Prajapati and Rajkishore Singh, from the cabinet on corruption charges. Both leaders are considered to be close to Shivpal.
THE RIFT MOVES AHEAD
Sep 15: Shivpal resigns from cabinet and quits as state unit chief.
Sep 17: Akhilesh says his uncle Shivpal will continue as Samajwadi Party state president. Akhilesh tweets Gayatri Prajapati will be re-inducted in the cabinet.
Sep 18: After assuming charge as party’s state president, Shivpal expels close relative of his brother Ram Gopal Yadav and another leader on land grabbing charges.
IT'S SHIVPAL'S TURN
Sep 19: Shivpal expels seven pro-Akhilesh youth leaders, including 3 MLCs for making “derogatory remarks” against Mulayam, anti-party activities and indiscipline.
Sep 20: Mulayam appoints Amar Singh as party general secretary.
Oct 3: Akhilesh says, “I have no idea about any list being released by the party,” after Shivpal releases new list of candidates for the forthcoming elections.
AKHILESH TO BE CHIEF MINISTERIAL CANDIDATE
Oct 14: Mulayam snubs Akhilesh, says, the chief ministerial candidate will be decided by the elected party legislators and parliamentary board after Assembly elections.
Oct 16: Shivpal proposes Akhilesh’s name for chief ministerial candidate, a day after Ram Gopal suggests Akhilesh to be made CM candidate.
Oct 17: Mulayam also announces Akhilesh will be the chief ministerial candidate.
GAP WIDENS BETWEEN SHIVPAL AND AKHILESH
Oct 21: Akhilesh skips meeting called by Shivpal to strategise upcoming Assembly elections, where the latter announces Akhilesh will be the CM candidate.
Oct 22: SP MLC Udayveer Singh gets expelled from the party after he accuses Mulayam’s second wife of conspiring against Akhilesh.
THE SACKING GAME
Oct 23: Akhilesh sacks Shivpal from party and four other pro-Mulayam senior leaders were also removed from the party.
Oct 23: Mulayam sacks Ram Gopal and expels him for six years. Shivpal says, Ram Gopal has been working for BJP and created division in the party.
AKHILESH GETS EMOTIONAL AND LOSES COOL
Oct 24: Akhilesh rejects rumours of a new party and says, “I would have resigned if netaji wanted me to.” Shivpal criticizes Akhilesh of conspiring against SP. Mulayam says, “I can’t leave Amar Singh and Shivpal.” Akhilesh reportedly loses cool and shouts in the middle of his father’s speech that Amar Singh is not acceptable within the party. Shivpal calls Akhilesh a liar.
RAM GOPAL BLASTS MULAYAM
Oct 25: Ram Gopal says, Mulayam is jealous of Akhilesh’s popularity. Mulayam says, Akhilesh is the CM now, “We will see later,” referring to speculations on changing the chief minister. Mulayam tells Akhilesh to take back Shivpal in the cabinet.
