Uncle Takes Yadav War To Delhi, Akhilesh Meets Actor, Announces Yatra

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday described as a "dispute in the government and not a family feud," his differences with uncle Shivpal Yadav, which have placed him in direct confrontation with his father and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

This was no peace move. The 44-year-old chief minister said, "I consult Neta ji on most decisions. But some decisions I take on my own."

While his uncle rushed to Delhi to meet Neta ji or Mulayam Singh on Wednesday, Akhilesh stayed in Lucknow, met actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who is the brand ambassador for one of UP's schemes, and announced a "yatra" on Twitter calling it "victory through development."

Late on Tuesday night, the chief minister had demoted his uncle, divesting him of four important ministries and giving him the social welfare portfolio instead. That was after his father had removed him as the Samajwadi Party's UP chief and appointed younger brother Shivpal in his stead.  

It was the denouement of a battle for supremacy that began when Akhilesh opposed Shivpal's plan for the merger of don Mukhtar Ansari's party with the SP. This week, he sacked two ministers and a top bureaucrat, all close to his uncle.

The battle is tearing the Samajwadi Party apart five months before it makes a bid to retain the state in crucial assembly elections.

Shivpal Yadav flaunted his new powers on Wednesday as the party's UP chief and also his proximity to Mulayam, saying, "No one has the temerity to go against what Netaji says."

Sources said he has strongly recommended that Mulayam Singh Yadav remove Akhilesh as Chief Minister and hold the post himself.

The 61-year-old minister reportedly has on his side Amar Singh, whose return to the Samajwadi Party after 6 years in exile was opposed by Akhilesh Yadav. Also Mulayam's second son Prateek, 28.
 "There is no family crisis. Outsiders are creating trouble," said Akhilesh Yadav today in what was seen as a reference to Amar Singh.

Mr Singh promptly said, "Akhilesh is like my son."