A dejected chief minister Akhilesh Yadav is now saying that he would remain chief minister till polls and who would be next chief minister after the polls the party would decide then only.

The power struggle in Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayan Singh Yadav’s family and open confrontation between chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Yadav have weakened the party before crucial assembly polls.

The manner in which Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was removed from the post of state president of party and he retaliated by taking away all the important departments from his uncle who was enjoying the position of number two in the cabinet, has had adverse impact on the morale of the SP workers at the base level.

Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav also antagonized his father Mulayam Singh Yadav when he sacked two ministers Gaya Prasad Prajapati and Raj Kishore Singh over the issue of corruption. Gaya Prasad Prajapati was facing allegations of corruption in illegal mining and his case was pending with Lok Ayukt and Allahabad High Court had ordered CBI probe into the allegations. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav also removed chief secretary Deepak Singhal who was enjoying patronage of Shivpal Yadav and controversial MP Amar Singh whom Akhilesh never liked.

In power struggle within the family, Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav enjoys the support from his other uncle Prof Ram Gopal Yadav who is cousin brother of Mulayam Singh Yadav . While Shivpal Yadav has the support from wife of Mulayam Singh Yadav and his other son Prateek Yadav. Prof Ram Gopal Yadav who is leader of Samajwadi Party in Rajya Sabha, is also against Shivpal Yadav.

Much to the embarrassment to chief minister, Gaya Prasad Prajapati enjoying patronage of Mulayam Singh Yadav and his other immediate family members will be taken back in the cabinet.

The main struggle between uncle and nephew was on the power to distribute tickets in next assembly elections to oblige their own candidates and manage the post of chief minister later on.

Shivpal Yadav who had earlier been state president and enjoying more control over the party and direct relations with grass roots workers has his own ambition to become chief minister after 2017 assembly polls.

It would be worth mentioning here that in 2012 Shivpal Yadav and Mohd Azam Khan were opposed to Akhilesh Yadav becoming the chief minister and they wanted Mulayam Singh Yadav to take over as chief minister.

During recent struggle and show down between the supporters of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Yadav ,one formula was suggested to Mulayam Singh Yadav that he should take over as chief minister for the remaining period.

In order to mount pressure, there was show of strength from both sides where Shivpal Yadav called supporters from Itawah and other neighboring areas while Akhilesh Yadav also got representatives from various youth wings and they openly confronted on the streets of state capital with slogan shouting.

Then Mulayam Singh Yadav intervened and asked the supporters from both side to control their anger and convened the meeting of Shivpal Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav at his residence and announced his formula that Shivpal Yadav would remain party president and would also retain all important portfolios and he also made Akhilesh Yadav as president state parliamentary board to have his say on ticket distribution.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav returned all the portfolios to his uncle with two additional departments but refused to return PWD which was vas very prestigious to Shivpal Yadav.

Now it is time to settle score with each other. The moment Shivpal Yadav took over as state president, he removed chief spokesman Rajendra Choudhry who is considered to be close to chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and took action against Arvind Yadav MLC close relative of Prof Ram Gopal Yadav.

Political analysts feel that Mulayam Singh Yadav may have announced compromise formula after series of tea and lunch meetings but the bitterness in the family members will increase in days to come reducing the chances of party to come back to power. (IPA Service)