Sensing that he was fighting a losing battle, SP chief Mulayam Singh went for a truce with his son and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday, revoking his and party general secretary Ramgopal’s expulsion. Less than 24 hours had passed before the complete volte-face by the party supremo.
Both father and son convened meetings on Saturday to ascertain the strength of their supporters. Within hours, it became clear that Akhilesh had the support of a lion’s share of the MLAs. Over 200 MLAs were present in Akhilesh’s meeting. Meanwhile, in the party office, where Mulayam had convened a meeting of probable candidates, hardly 20 people, including some MLAs, were present.
Mulayam was supposed to turn up there at 10.30 AM but he did not turn up till 12.30, as he got the news that a majority of the MLAs pledged support to Akhilesh. Akhilesh said in the meeting, “I will not be separated from Netaji(Mulayam). I will win Uttar Pradesh for him.”
Left with no choice, Mulayam went for a truce and revoked his order of expelling Akhilesh and Ramgopal Yadav.
Soon after the meeting with his MLAs, the chief minister went to meet his father and SP chief Mulayam Singh. Acoording to sources at the meeting between father and son, a consensus emerged. A fresh list of candidates will be published and Amar Singh would be expelled from the party.
Unconfirmed reports say that it was decided to reinstate Akhilesh as party state president, the position which he held before Shivpal’s appointment. At the meeting, an emotional Mulayam said to Akhilesh, “ I was never against you. Had I been against you, I would have never made you the chief minister.”
Senior minister and muslim face of the party, Azam Khan, played the crucial role of a mediator between the father and son. In the morning, he first met Mulayam and then Akhilesh. Later, he took Akhilesh to Mulayam for further deliberation. Another leader who played the role of mediator was the former Bihar chief minister and relative of Mulayam, Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Later on, state president Shivpal Yadav informed the press that both expulsions had been revoked.
Speaking to mediapersons, Ramgopal Yadav said that Sunday's national convention of the party would take place as scheduled.
In this high volatage political drama, Akhilesh emerged as a strong undisputed leader of the party, leaving Amar Singh and Shivpal in weak positions.
The CM’s residence and party office had transformed into virtual garrisons with the deployment of a heavy police force. All the entry points had been blocked. A huge gathering of supporters, of both Mulayam and Akhilesh, were shouting slogans in favour of their leaders.
