Akhilesh Yadav Vs Mulayam Singh - How the Samajwadi Party rift unfolded

Know how the political rift within the Samajwadi Party ahead of crucial Assembly Elections unfolded.

Lucknow: The dynastic power struggle between the Yadavs in Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party has deepened over the past few months. Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is facing the worst crisis of his political career, is trying hard to douse the fires in the party he founded some 25 years ago.

Here is a timeline of how the political rift within the Samajwadi Party ahead of crucial Assembly Elections unfolded:

August 14, 2016: At a congregation in Mainpuri, Shivpal Yadav threatened to resign citing officers ignoring him and an increase in land grab cases in the state.

August 15, 2016: Mulayam Singh Yadav came in support of Shivpal, warning others that if his brother leaves the party, there will be factions within the SP.

September 12, 2016: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav sacked two of his ministers - Gayatri Prasad Prajapati and Raj Kishore Singh - over corruption charges.

September 13, 2016: SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav appointed Shivpal Yadav as the state unit chief, replacing his son Akhilesh Yadav. The decision brought about the worst-ever crisis in the Samajwadi Party out in the open.

September 13, 2016: In retaliation, Akhilesh Yadav stripped Shivpal Yadav of three key ministries. On the same day, the UP CM removed Chief Secretary Deepak Singhal, who was considered close to Shivpal.

September 15, 2016: Mulayam Singh Yadav held separate meetings with Akhilesh and Shivpal to resolve the crisis.

September 16, 2016: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav restored the portfolios he snatched from his uncle and party leader Shivpal Yadav after days of bitter power struggle in the party.

September 16, 2016: After party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav played the peacemaker, Akhilesh Yadav also took back Mining Minister Gayatri Prajapati, a Shivpal protege whom he had earlier sacked.

September 19, 2016: Uncle Shivpal Yadav booted out two senior youth wing leaders. Of these, one was MLC Arvind Singh Yadav, the nephew of his cousin Ram Gopal Yadav, who openly sided with Akhilesh Yadav during the power struggle. Shivpal also sacked seven senior youth wing leaders known to be close to the Chief Minister.

September 26, 2016: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav expanded his cabinet for the eighth time since he assumed office in March 2012. The swearing-in of 10 new ministers, including Gayatri Prasad Prajapati, Manoj Pandey and Shivakant Ojha, who were all sacked by the Chief Minister earlier, was conducted at Raj Bhavan by Governor Ram Naik.

October 22, 2016: Party MLC Udayveer Singh, who wrote a letter to Mulayam Singh in support of Akhilesh Yadav, expelled from the party for six years.

October 23, 2016: In a swift and sudden move, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav sacked his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav as a senior minister in his Cabinet, and three others from the government.

October 23, 2016: In dramatic tit-for-tat in Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party, the party brass retaliated by sacking Akhilesh Yadav's backer and MP Ram Gopal Yadav from the party for six years. Ram Gopal had earlier in the day triggered a controversy when he wrote a letter to party leaders saying only Akhilesh Yadav can lead the party to victory in the Assembly poll.