Uttar Pradesh: Akhilesh Yadav on rath yatra from Nov 3, might skip Samajwadi Party silver jubilee event

LUCKNOW: The infighting in the Samajwadi Party shows no signs of abating. The latest salvo in the rift within the Yadav clan was fired today by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav by announcing his decision to embark on 'Samajwadi Vikas Rath Yatra' alone from November 3. The announcement gave rise to speculation that Akhilesh might skip his party's silver jubilee celebrations which begins here on November 5. SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had announced that the party will be organising the Silver Jubilee event on 5 November and appealed to all MLAs, ministers and party cadres to work hard for the event. Party insiders said any attempt to derail or stop him from going ahead with the Yatra could lead to another crisis in the party. In a letter written to party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Chief Minister said all political parties have started their campaigns for the Assembly polls. "I had decided to take out the yatra from October 3 but it was cancelled due to some reasons. I will take out the 'Samajwadi Vikas Rath Yatra' from November 3," he said. Akhilesh has also sent copies of the letter to state party chief Shivpal Yadav and National General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav. He said yatra's detailed programme will be communicated to district presidents and party workers in due course. The announcement gave rise to speculation that Akhilesh might skip the sliver jubilee celebrations to send a message that he was unhappy over the expulsion of youth leaders from the party, who would not be present at the event. Earlier in the day, Akhilesh, Shivpal Yadav, and Mulayam held a closed-door meeting at party supremo's 5 Vikramaditya Marg residence to discuss poll strategy. According to party sources, Akhilesh is adamant on his demands of revoking the expulsion of youth leaders, some of whom are MLCs, and having his say in the ticket distribution. A number of SP youth leaders had also declared that they will boycott party's silver jubilee celebrations in the state capital on November 5 if their expulsion is not revoked. Akhilesh had earlier announced his decision to take out the yatra from October 3 through his twitter handle with a picture in which he was seen sitting inside a bus. It was seen as a move to counter uncle Shivpal, who had been appointed the new state party president in his place. Akhilesh hit back over his removal from the party post by stripping Shivpal of his key ministerial portfolios, bringing the family feud in the open. Through the yatra, Akhilesh is expected to highlight his government's development works, rally support for the party and demonstrate support for him among the party cadres. Party sources said Mulayam Singh Yadav has so far managed to pull back the party from the brink every time it faces any threat. This time too he has to move swiftly to take care of the concerns of the CM and his supporters, they pointed out. The simmering differences within the Yadav family had bubbled to the surface in December last year when Akhilesh stayed away from the Saifai Mahotsav, a family jamboree in their village in Etawah district, for the first five days. Akhilesh was annoyed with his father because he had suspended two of the chief minister’s confidants for alleged anti-party activities. Akhilesh attended the Mahotsav only after the suspensions were revoked.