Samajwadi Party heading for a split?
Sources stated that CM Akhilesh Yadav has asked MLAs loyal to him to go ahead and fight the upcoming polls on their own; the news comes on the heels of party supremo Mulayam releasing the first list of candidates, without Akhilesh's name on the list. According to sources Akhilesh just announced his own list of 167 candidates. No further details have been divulged yet.
The Samajwadi party: Intro
The Samajwadi Party (SP) was founded on 4 October 1992 under Mulayam Singh Yadav (MSY) in UP; it was formed after the fragmentation of the Janata Dal. It has fought legislative elections in many states but saw success mainly in UP. Founder MSY, his son Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and MSY's brother, former SP state chief Shivpal Yadav are the leading party figures.
SP in numbers
In 2003, SP became Madhya Pradesh's 3rd largest political party after winning 7 seats. Currently it is the 13th largest party in Parliament. SP has 1 MLA each in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and West Bengal, while it has 2 in Bihar.
Early signs of the SP feud
The relationship between CM Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Yadav is at the center of the SP feud. It is speculated that Akhilesh's appointment as Chief Minister in 2012, overlooking Shivpal Yadav's claims created a rift between the two. The pair had openly disagreed over appointments to the post of State Chief Secretary; Akhilesh Yadav is also known to dislike Amar Singh.
Akhilesh on war footing
On 13 September, the feud in the SP widened, as Akhilesh Yadav removed 2 ministers close to Shivpal Yadav who were facing corruption charges. He replaced the Chief Secretary appointed by Shivpal Yadav. MSY appointed Shivpal as the UP State SP Chief, following which Akhilesh stripped Shivpal of all his portfolios including PWD, Irrigation, Revenue etc, leaving him with just the Social Welfare portfolio.
Shivpal resigns, reinstated
On 16 September, Shivpal Yadav resigned from Akhilesh Yadav's cabinet. He also resigned as the SP's Uttar Pradesh State Chief. His resignation was not accepted by party supremo MSY. On 18 September, Akhilesh Yadav reinstated Shivpal Yadav to all portfolios except the SP Parliamentary Board which makes electoral candidate decisions.
Akhilesh sacks Shivpal, 3 others over links to Amar Singh
At a legislature meeting called at the Chief Minister's residence, Akhilesh Yadav sacked his uncle Shivpal Yadav from his cabinet post along with three other ministers he was close to. Narad Rai, Om Prakash and Shadab Fatima were also fired. Akhilesh vowed to expel all party members close to Amar Singh. Meanwhile, another SP member close to Akhilesh was fired for "anti-party' activities.
SP meet: Mulayam Singh insists SP stands as one
SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav stressed that the Samajwadi Party stood firmly together as a family, even as CM Akhilesh Yadav remained missing at the press conference. Sources stated that Akhilesh has made it clear that he will not form a new party nor will he quit as CM. Shivpal Yadav and Amar Singh were present at the meeting as well.
Akhilesh Yadav to begin Rath Yatra today
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is set to begin his 'Vikas Rath Yatra' today which will be flagged off by SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. The CM's aide, Rajendra Chowdhary said over 3000 vehicles would be part of the yatra, which will be held in Lucknow leading to the La Martiniere College ground. The theme of the yatra is 'Vikas se Vijay tak.'
Shivpal says yatra not SP's campaign, alliance talks falter
UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's Rath Yatra was dampened after SP state chief Shivpal Yadav called a press conference to announce that it was not the party's official campaign, which would begin tomorrow. However, the Congress, the JD(U) and RLD all told Mulayam Singh that no alliance would be forged without Akhilesh. The moves are seen as deepening cracks within the Samajwadi Party.
Akhilesh draws up list of poll candidates
In a new twist in the Samajwadi Party family feud, UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav drew up his own list of candidates for the UP polls, sending to party supremo Mulayam Singh, bypassing state chief Shivpal Yadav. Sources added that Akhilesh dropped several sitting MLAs and leaders close to Shivpal. Shivpal Yadav took to Twitter saying no decisions would be made unilaterally.
Shivpal Yadav revokes suspension of MLA fired by Akhilesh
The Samajwadi Party's UP state chief Shivpal Yadav revoked the suspension order of MLA Rampal Yadav, who was expelled by CM Akhilesh Yadav for indiscipline. Shivpal's overturning of the order comes on the heels of Akhilesh's poll candidate list which he submitted to the party after bypassing Shivpal Yadav. Shivpal seeks to field Rampal Yadav in the upcoming election.
