Lucknow: Even as the Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Tuesday insisted that the 'party and family are united', Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav blamed Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh for misusing the trust of his party.
Following is what Akhilesh reportedly told various news channels:
"I was made CM by my father Mulayam Singh Yadav, will quit if he asks me to. I am working on my campaign and am totally focused on the planned Rath Yatra. Am busy now with showcasing the campaigning theme and development work. Ultimately, people will vote on the basis of development not caste,” he told CNN-News18.
On the other hand, NDTV quoted him as saying - "I was made Chief Minister by the party president who is my father. If he asks me to step down, I certainly will... If I am removed, I will campaign for him. Like a horse in a race has blinkers on and it doesn't look anywhere else, I am looking at the next election. I have no other plans."
To Times Now channel he said, "Amar Singh is to blame. He is misusing my father's trust. I will not split party. I will fight till the end."
Earlier today, Mulayam remained evasive on whether Shivpal Yadav will be reinstated in the Akhilesh's Cabinet.
Amid a deep divide in the party and the family, Mulayam, flanked by party's state unit chief Shivpal and three other sacked ministers, addressed a press conference where CM Akhilesh was conspicuous by his absence.
To send out a message, he said that SP had come to power in 2012 because of him only and still Akhilesh was made the Chief Minister. He however, ruled out becoming the Chief Minister with Assembly elections barely few months away.
"My entire life is devoted for the welfare of the people and he will continue to work for them," he added.
Mulayam strongly defended party MP Amar Singh, who is being blamed by the Akhilesh faction for the problems in the family, asking "why to drag him in all this"?
"My family and party are united. All workers are united. There are some conspirators, who do not have any mass base," Mulayam told a hurriedly convened press conferences. There is not 'matbhed' (difference) or 'manbhed' (ill feelings) among our leaders," Yadav said, as per PTI.
Asked whether Shivpal and other sacked ministers would then be reinstated in the Akhilesh cabinet, he said, "I leave this to CM.... You ask him why he made them ministers and why he sacked them."
Appearing cautious while replying to a questions, Mulayam said, "I will not make any single controversial statement. Whatever you may ask."
To a question whether he would take over the reins of the state from his son Akhilesh, the SP supremo said, "Why will I consider it now when Assembly elections are just few months away."
He said Model Code of Conduct will come into force in November or December and government will not be able to work freely.
When asked about son Akhilesh Yadav's reservations against Amar Singh, Mulayam said, "Why do you drag him into all this?"
Sacked ministers Om Prakash Singh, Narad Rai and Sayeda Shadab Fatima were also present, besides tainted minister Gayatri Prajapati.
On brother Ramgopal Yadav's statement, Mulayam said, "I do not give him any importance now."
About party Chief ministerial candidate for 2017, Malayam said, "Ours is a democratic party. First let us get majority and then elected representatives will select their CM. Presently, Akhilesh is CM, does anyone have any problem?"
(With Agency inputs)
