Sultanpur: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had said that the recent feud within the state's first family was actually a struggle to uphold "socialist" values in interest of the people of his state.


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Akhilesh Yadav made these remarks while addressing a rally at Motihar area in Sultanpur Sadar on Tuesday.


This was Akhilesh's first rally after taking over as the Samajwadi Party national president.


"The battle was long and fought at various levels, but it had to be done to uphold socialist values," he said. 


"Other people (read opposition) have their own interpretation of it, but for us it was for the sake of samajwad... this was a struggle in your interest," he told the crowd.


The remarks from Akhilesh came days after he toppled his father and party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and uncle Shivpal Yadav for the control over the party and its symbol cycle.


On January 16, the Election Commission recognised Akhilesh as the party's president and gave him the symbol.


However, minister Gayatri Prajapati - one of the key reasons behind the family war – was also present on the dais when Akhilesh addressed his first rally. 


The family feud broke out in September when Akhilesh sacked Prajpati allegedly for irregularities in mining department he was heading. However, he was reinstated later on Mulayam's insistence and was given a different portfolio.