Sunday evening in a five star hotel in Delhi, Samajwadi Party MP Amar Singh hosted a party to felicitate a close friend and a fellow Rajya Sabha MP from Haryana. Amongst others, both SP President Mulayam Singh Yadav and his brother Shivpal Yadav were present in the gala show of the who's who in Delhi's power circuit. Those present at the reception had no inkling that a string of events in the next forty eight hours would shatter the uneasy calm within SP's first family and send ripples across the state and national politics in poll bound UP.
Monday morning, Shivpal Yadav had a meeting with Mulayam Singh at latter's Ashok Road residence in Delhi and left for Etawah thereafter.
By evening, the Chief Minister and Shivpal's nephew Akhilesh Yadav struck the first blow by sacking two ministers facing corruption allegations: Mining minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati considered close to Mulayam Singh and Rajkishore Singh a known Shivpal protege.
Next to go was chief secretary Deepak Singhal. Tuesday afternoon, marching orders were served on the bureaucrat who is seen to enjoy good relations with both Shivpal and Amar Singh.
By the evening, party general secretary and Mulayam's cousin Ram Gopal Yadav in a communique announced CM Akhilesh Yadav had been removed as state party president. Uncle Shivpal was the new boss. Within hours, Akhilesh struck back stripping uncle Shivpal of key portfolios including PWD and irrigation.
Also Read: Shivpal Yadav Becomes UP Party Chief, CM Akhilesh Strips Uncle of Key Portfolios
Differences and discontent within the Yadav family has for the first time breached the confines of Mulayam's ancestral home Saifai. His son Akhilesh has asserted himself it seems to settle the leadership issue within and outside.
It was inevitable. And it was coming. That seniors in the party in 2012 did reluctantly accept Yadav junior as the CM, but were never comfortable in the changed dispensation. Akhilesh over the years attempted to develop his own team. Shivpal worked hard to consolidate his position with the cadre. He even developed a good equation with expelled party MP Amar Singh. And then there was the inimitable Azam Khan, SP's Muslim face who had his own minority politics to take care of. All this while Mulayam Singh, the patriarch watched from the sidelines and played the referee.
The multiple power centres developed, aligned, realigned and broke again. Akhilesh was never seen to be in control. In fact, despite opposition from Akhilesh, Azam Khan and Ram Gopal, Shivpal could not only ensure Amar Singh's re-entry into the party but also in the Rajya Sabha.
The young CM asserted himself for the first time earlier this year making his displeasure over merger of don-turned politician Mukhtar Ansari's Qaumi Ekta Dal with the SP. Again Shivpal was said to be the instrumental link in this entire exercise which embarrassed Akhilesh to no end.
Apart from other things, there are differences between the uncle and nephew in approach that the party should take for the upcoming UP polls. While Akhilesh, some say is attempting to re-create the 2012 narrative which projected SP as having turned a new leaf. Seeking to jettison old baggage, the new SP under Mulayam junior in the last elections in 2012 even refused to entertain the likes of DP Yadav.
After five years in power, there are no allegations of corruption against the CM. But like Manmohan Singh, he is accused of having done little to check council of ministers in their acts of omission and commission. His performance on law and order front will also be under electoral scanner.Also Read: Young vs Old: Power Tussle in Samajwadi Party Ahead of UP Polls
A section including uncle Shivpal feel, SP will need to consolidate it's position by striking alliances with smaller parties and consolidating Muslims backward combination. What worked for the party in opposition five years back may not work now 5 years later.
The outcome of the current crisis in the SP will have its own long term implications in the state and UP politics. If Akhilesh is able to settle this bout to his advantage, he will not only impose his leadership upon the party. He would be also be successful in bringing about a generational shift in SP's politics.
A leap of generation from purely caste to development politics.
Comments
0 comment