Samajwadi Party revokes expulsion of Akhilesh, Ramgopal: As it happened

In a dramatic turn of events, the Samajwadi Party on Saturday revoked the expulsion of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Ramgopal Yadav, a day after they were ousted from the party for six years over anti-party activities.

31 December 2016

16:37 IST

Azam Khan and Shivpal Singh Yadav reach Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's residence in Lucknow to meet him.

16:16 IST

Samajwadi Party's Shivpal Singh Yadav reaches Azam Khan's residence to discuss the party's next move.

15:26 IST

Akhilesh told his father that he would give victory in UP polls as a gift to him. He also told Mulayam that some people were misleading him.

15:25 IST

Sources tell Zee Media that during the meeting, Mulayam told Akhilesh that he was never against him. Also, Azam Khan told Akhilesh to touch his father's feet.

15:22 IST

UP CM Akhilesh Yadav's supporters celebrate after SP Chief revoked CM's expulsion from the party.

14:40 IST

Ramgopal Yadav denies cancelling the national executive programme, scheduled for tomorrow. "The schedule of the programme was decided quite earlier. Expulsion took place just yesterday," says Ramgopal. Notably, just almost an hour back, Shivpal Yadav had announced that Ramgopal has cancelled his programme.

14:30 IST

Our party has lived up to all its promises, people are with us: Shivpal Yadav

14:29 IST

Shivpal Yadav addresses supporters, says Samajwadi Party will fight unitedly against communal forces.

14:05 IST

Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav will sit together to make a new list of candidates, says Shivpal Yadav. He adds that Ramgopal has cancelled his national executive programme.

14:05 IST

After meeting Mulayam Singh Yadav at 5 Vikramaditya Marg , Akhilesh Yadav tells reporters that he will keep his point at the Samajwadi Party's national convention tomorrow.

13:48 IST

Mulayam Singh Yadav revokes expulsion order of Akhilesh and Ramgopal, announces Samajwadi Party's Uttar Pradesh chief Shivpal Yadav. "As per the directions of Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav), the expulsion of Akhilesh Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav has been revoked with immediate effect," Shivpal tweets. He adds that the SP stood united to defeat communal forces in the state and form a government with a full majority again.

13:35 IST

Akhilesh Yadav and Ramgopal Yadav are likely to be reinducted in the Samajwadi Party.

13:33 IST

Akhilesh, Shivpal, Azam Khan leave Mulayam Singh's residence after a closed-door meeting.

12:57 IST

Over 200 of the 229 SP MLAs back Akhilesh Yadav: Sources

12:51 IST

Shivpal Yadav joins meeting with Mulayam, kindling a ray of hope for a last minute patch-up. 

12:44 IST

CM Akhilesh Yadav left his MLA meeting midway to meet Mulayam Singh Yadav. Both Shivpal and Ramgopal Yadav not present, reports ANI.

12:38 IST

Akhilesh loyalists exchange blows with supporters of SP state unit chief Shivpal Yadav outside party headquarters in Lucknow. 

12:20 IST

Azam earlier met Mulayam Singh twice and apparently went to the Chief Minister Akhilesh with a message from the former. Clearly unhappy with Akhilesh, Mulayam reportedly told Azam to communicate to the Chief Minister to fall in line and not breach party discipline as it would do him no good.

12:19 IST

According to informed sources, the move was a last-minute bid to save the party from imminent split ahead of the 2017 Assembly Elections in Uttar Pradesh. The patch-up bid was brokered by state Urban Development Minister Mohd. Azam Khan, one of the founding members of the Samajwadi Party and close to the father-son duo. 

12:18 IST

Akhilesh Yadav has reached Mulayam Singh Yadav's residence with Azam Khan and Abu Azmi.

12:18 IST

Mulayam Singh Yadav to hold crucial meeting at 1:00 pm.

12:17 IST

Akhilesh Yadav said in meet with MLAs that he respects Mulayam Singh Yadav and that party is Mulayam's and his hard work can't be overlooked, reports ANI.

12:15 IST

After meeting SP legislators, CM Akhilesh Yadav drives to residence of his father and party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. 

12:08 IST

Akhilesh Yadav says that he is not separated from father Mulayam Singh Yadav. Victory in UP polls will be my gift to father, says a teary-eyed Akhilesh.

12:05 IST

12:02 IST

Azam Khan arrives at Akhilesh Yadav's residence after meeting Mulayam Singh Yadav.

11:47 IST

Akhilesh Yadav's supporters try to break cordon outside CM residence, clash with police. 

11:47 IST

Ramgopal Yadav changes venue for emergency national executive meet of Samajwadi Party for tomorrow, it will be held now at Janeshwar Mishra Park.

11:42 IST

Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav speaks to Mulayam Singh Yadav, asks him to stay united to fight communal forces.

11:40 IST

Azam Khan calls a meeting of all Muslim party MLAs at 3 pm.

11:32 IST

At the meeting, Akhilesh Yadav reportedly tells supporters to campaign in their respective constituencies. 

11:30 IST

Azam Khan has reached Mulayam Singh Yadav's residence.

11:27 IST

Azam Khan will not attend the meetings called by Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav. He will reportedly try to play a peacemaker.

11:24 IST

Juhi Singh, Samajwadi Party spokesperson and an Akhilesh loyalist, who resigned from the post yesterday, says: "When my CM is suspended, it is my responsibility to resign as spokesperson too. I am not against Neta ji but we stand with our CM."

10:50 IST

Samajwadi Party's Madhukar Jetley tells ANI, "Netaji (Mulayam) had said yesterday that if the CM admits his fault, then he will try to end the matter. In 2012, when he (Akhilesh) was made CM, he had promised that this day would never come."

10:23 IST

Akhilesh Yadav's supporters raise slogans in his support outside the CM residence.

10:22 IST

The Bharatiya Janata Party extends its support to Akhilesh. "I think this is a kind of family drama. The people are also getting to know this. The way Prime Minister Modi has taken politics to a high level so that the corrupt and hooligans do not get any place...I think even the Samajwadi Party is following this," BJP leader Satyapal Singh tells ANI.

10:10 IST

More than 200 MLAs have arrived at Akhilesh's 5, Kalidas Marg residence.

10:00 IST

Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh terms the crisis in the party as "unfortunate" and asks party members to support Mulayam Singh Yadav in the family feud which has seen Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav being expelled. "I appeal to the party members to stand with Netaji Mulayam Singh. Whatever is happening is very unfortunate," says Amar, who had recently made a comeback to the party after a long exile.

09:40 IST

Akhilesh Yadav meets SP MLAs ahead of Mulayam Singh Yadav's meeting with party leaders later in the day.

09:22 IST

News agency ANI has quoted sources as saying that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has spoken to Akhilesh, wishing him well and asking him to stay strong.

09:20 IST

Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi hopes all issues between Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his father and party chief would get resolved soon.

Here's what he said: Uttar Pradesh must not suffer due to infighting, says SP leader Abu Azmi

09:15 IST

The Congress Party says that Akhilesh's expulsion is a case of political instability in the state. "There is a situation of political instability in Uttar Pradesh, it's worrisome for democracy. We don't comment on internal divisions within any political party," says Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

08:55 IST

Mulayam Singh has called SP’s Parliamentary board meet today.​

08:45 IST

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday expelled his son Akhilesh Yadav and general secretary Ramgopal Yadav for six years after they put up candidates against the official nominees.

08:30 IST

Following hectic political activity on Friday, the last day of 2016 is set for another round of frenzied politics in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday as expelled Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is likely to play his cards. To consolidate his supporters, both in the party and the legislature party, Akhilesh has called all party MLA`s to his official bungalow on Saturday morning.