Ever since Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav forced the parliamentary board of the party to cancel the merger of Quami Ekta Dal of mafia-turned-politician and MLA Mukthtar Ansari with Samajwadi Party, SP’s senior cabinet minister and uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav is sulking.

It would be worth mentioning here that the cabinet minister and in-charge of Samajwadi Party for Mission 2017 was instrumental for the now botched merger of Quami Ekta Dal with the SP. Cabinet minister Balram Yadav was behind the negotiations with Afzal Ansari, president of Quami Ekta Dal, with his brother mafia don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari now in Agra jail.

Significantly, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav,who is also state president of Samajwadi Party, was not aware of this now aborted merger.

When CM Akhilesh Yadav came to know of the goings-on, he swung into action and sacked cabinet minister Balram Yadav for his alleged role in negotiations with Mukhtar Ansari.

Akhilesh Yadav realised that his government was already been criticised by the opposition parties and media for deterioration in law and order situation. Conscious about his image before facing the 2017 Assembly polls, the UP chief minister prevailed upon all the members of parliamentary board to cancel the merger with Quami Ekta Dal.

Significantly enough, party’s general secretary Ram GopalYadav, who’s also a cousin of Mulayam Singh Yadav, made it clear after the meeting that the board cancelled the merger as chief minister Akhilesh Yadav was unhappy with the any relation with QuamiEkta Dal.

It would be worth mentioning here that the Cabinet minister Shivpal Yadav took the initiative to have merger with Quami Ekta Dal as the latter party had influence in several districts in and around Varanasi. This was a serious attempt to enlarge the base of party.

Shocked by the defiance of nephew chief minister Akhilesh cabinet minister, Shivpal Yadav lamented that merger with Quami Ekta Dal had the blessing and support from party supremo Mulayam Sngh Yadav.

The annoyance of Shivpal Yadav was reflected during the birthday function of his cousin Ram Gopal Yadav in Lucknow.

Under the glare of media and all those present during the function, Shivpal Yadav reached late and preferred to sit with the public rather going to dais. It was only when they were noticed they were called to the dais, where too they occupied the back seat.

Speeches made by Ram Gopal, Amar Singh and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav made it abundantly clear that ruling Samajwadi Party family was facing inner conflict in senior members.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is also not happy with the manner in which his uncle took great interest to bring controversial leaders like Beni Prasad Verma and Amar Singh back to the party fold and made them Rajya Sabha MPs. Akhilesh hasn’t forgotten that these two leaders had launched a bitter campaign against Mulayam Singh Yadav and SP when they left the party.

Akhilesh Yadav is also not happy with Shivpal Yadav who was made in-charge of party for the Assembly elections while he was state president. Shivpal Yadav was instrumental in sacking two close lieutenants of Akhilesh Yadav on behalf of Mulayam.

Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav was so unhappy with this development that he avoided a visit to Saifai festival in his native village to show his protest. He forced Mulayam and Shivpal to cancel the expulsions of his close lieutenants and made them members of UP legislative council.

Shivpal is also unhappy that he was instrumental in the party becoming part of grand alliance in Bihar with Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar. Shivpal addressed the meeting of alliance in Bihar and promised all support. But the party pulled out of the alliance on the advice of Ram Gopal who was against any tie up with Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar.

Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav realises that that there was turn around in 2012 assembly polls in his favour when he refused the entry of another mafia turn politician DP Yadav.

Akhilesh also sacked powerful cabinet minister RaghurajPratap Singh, also known Raja Bhaiyya, when his name figured in the alleged murder of police officer ZialulHaq in Pratapgarh.

Recently, one video has emerged showing chief minister Akhilesh Yadav maintaining distance from another mafia turned politician Atiq Ahmad at the dais while attending the function. This video became an instant hit in social media.

By forcing his party to cancel the merger with Quami Ekta Dal, chief minister Akhilesh Yadav not only boosted his own image but also brightened the chance of his party coming back to power.

That is why Mulayam Singh Yadav announced that chief minister Akhilesh Yadav will start his state-wide Vikas Rath Yatra from September 12 and touch almost all the Assembly constituencies to apprise people about the development schemes of Samajwadi Party government before the polls. Akhilesh Yadav had done a similar yatra in 2012 which paid rich dividends.

Now Samajwadi Party supremo will have to strike balance between his younger brother and cabinet minister Shivpal Yadav and his chief minister son Akhilesh Yadav to see there is no intra-party bickering. Together, they should face challenges from BSP and BJP in 2017 Assembly polls. (IPA Service)