Akhilesh-Shivpal supporters clash ahead of crucial SP meet

Lucknow : Supporters of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Samajwadi party leader Shivpal Yadav clashed outside the party office on Monday. Police and security officials had a tough time dispersing the unruly mobs.

The clash comes ahead of the crucial meeting called by SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav to take a "final call" on the bitter turf war within his family and the party. Shivpal Yadav drove into the party office at the Vikramaditya Marg ahead of Akhilesh Yadav. This was the first time that the Chief Minister came to the party office after September 13, the day the present duel within the SP started. An emotional Akhilesh addressed the crowd in which he said,"Will not break the party at any cost. I will not spare anyone who is close to Amar Singh." Mulayam Singh Yadav also reached the party office and is slated to meet party leaders, office bearers, legislators and workers soon. In a related development Akshay Yadav, son of expelled national General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav, has shot off an angry letter to the party leadership, accusing the leaders of humiliating his father. Ram Gopal, meanwhile, has said that there was no possibility of a split in the party as "Akhilesh Yadav was himself a party".