Lucknow: While top rank Samajwadi Party leaders continue to be engaged in a turf war, former Supreme Court Justice Markandey Katju on Wednesday had some suggestions for the members to save the party.
Katju, known for speaking his mind, advised all the Samajwadi Party members to get rid of all the old leaders and rally behind UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
He advised all the ministers, office bearers of party to submit their resignations to Akhilesh.
The ex-Press Council of India chairman opined that Akhilesh should replace Mulayam Singh Yadav as party president.
Speaking in favour of the UP CM, the former apex court judge said neither Mulayam nor anyone should advice Akhilesh, until he himself seeks.
Akhilesh Yadav is locked in a bitter power struggle with his uncle Shivpal Yadav.
Akhilesh has reportedly accused his uncle Shivpal Yadav and party general secretary Amar Singh of hatching a conspiracy to oust him from the chief minister's job - a charge categorically denied by the two.
The ongoing bitter feud in the family has brought SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, who has been trying hard to keep his flock together, on his toes.
Meanwhile, amid the bitter and public war of supremacy in the ruling SP, Akhilesh today met Governor Ram Naik at Raj Bhavan.
An informed source said that Akhilesh Yadav handed over a letter of support from 205 legislators of his party and briefed Naik about the legislature meeting of his party MLAs. The move is being seen as an attempt by the Chief Minister's camp to pre-empt any move by his uncle Shivpal Yadav and father Mulayam Singh Yadav to upstage him at any point of time in near future.
Before meeting the Governor, Akhilesh on Wednesday morning met party legislators, members of legislative council and other leaders, including those who have been expelled from the party.However, sources said neither the Governor had sought any such list nor any such document was handed over to him by Akhilesh.
SP sources said the visit might have been in connection with the four vacancies in the ministry after Akhilesh sacked his uncle Shivpal Yadav, Om Prakash Singh, Narad Rai and Sayeda Shadaab Fatima in a sudden move on Sunday, plunging the party into a deeper crisis.
Only way to save Samajwadi Party pic.twitter.com/Or61E3g5iv
— Markandey Katju (@mkatju) October 26, 2016
My advice to the SP members : Throw out all the old decayed fish and rotten eggs in your party, and solidly join ranks behind Akhilesh Yadav
— Markandey Katju (@mkatju) October 26, 2016
