Mulayam expels son Akhilesh from party for six years

The Samajwadi Party is on the verge of a split after its patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday expelled his son and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav from the party.

It is for the first time in the political history of the country that a chief minister has been expelled from his party by his father.

At a hurriedly convened press conference here, Mulayam also announced the expulsion of SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav for six years for “indiscipline”. He said the party would shortly elect a new leader to replace Akhilesh.

Reacting to his expulsion, Akhilesh said he still considered Mulayam as his leader. “Some persons are misleading Netaji (Mulayam),” he said.

Ram Gopal Yadav, on the other hand, said the expulsions were “unconstitutional”.The chief minister has convened a meeting of the SP legislators on Saturday morning to decide his future strategy.

UP Governor Ram Naik said it was the party’s “internal matter” and that he was watching the situation.

“Akhilesh has been expelled for six years...it has been done to save the party from breaking... He has ruined his future by joining hands with forces who want to weaken the party,” Mulayam said.

“It is not a punishment...I am only trying to save the party...my priority is the party,” he said.

An upset Mulayam said it was he who had made Akhilesh the chief minister in 2012. “If I wanted I could have become the chief minister... what can I do if Akhilesh himself wants to ruin his future,” Mulayam remarked.

He said Akhilesh had committed an act of indiscipline by declaring his own list of nominees after the party had announced its candidates.

Mulayam, who was flanked by his younger brother and party’s state unit president Shivpal Singh Yadav, indicated a more stringent action against Akhilesh and Ram Gopal, but did not elaborate.

Earlier, Mulayam had issued show-cause notices to Akhilesh and Ram Gopal for indulging in “anti-party” activities.

Mulayam said the new chief minister would be elected by the party legislators after consulting “everyone”. “We will consult our senior leaders... we will seek opinion from everyone before deciding on the new chief minister,” he added.

The SP chief said he might reconsider his decision if Akhilesh sought forgiveness. “Pita manta hoga to mafi mangenga, woh to ladata hai...Jab mafi mangenge tab dekha jayega,” (if he considers me his father, he may seek forgiveness but he always fights...we will see when he seeks forgiveness) he remarked.

Mulayam, who was upset with Ram Gopal for calling an emergency meeting of SP office-bearers and leaders on Sunday, said such a meeting cannot be convened without his (Mulayam) permission.

“Ram Gopal has ruined Akhilesh’s future and the latter does not understand this,” he said. SP sources said the swift action against Akhilesh and Ram Gopal was aimed at preventing them from “breaking” the party. “It is an unconstitutional meeting and I advise the SP leaders and workers not to attend it..,” he said.