Efforts for reconciliation in the Yadav family appeared to be gaining momentum with Shivpal meeting his nephew Akhilesh, on Friday, for the first time since the split in SP on Sunday even as the Chief Minister's camp claimed to have "signed" support of 212 of the 229 party MLAs.
Shivpal went to the residence of Akhilesh, on Friday morning and met him, raising hopes of reconciliation.
Party insiders were tight-lipped on what transpired during the brief meeting between the uncle and the nephew who have been at loggerheads for months now. Shivpal later met his brother Mulayam Singh Yadav as well.
However, sources privy to the fast-paced developments did not rule out the possibility of Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh’s resignation.
Another possibility could be Shivpal’s resignation from the post of state SP chief, a charge held by the chief minister before the current family feud broke out.
Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh denied being a "hurdle" in Akhilesh Yadav's path.
Status of one is not gauged just by number or power. I want to clarify that I am no hurdle in the path of Akhilesh Yadav.
Favouring a patch-up between the two factions of SP, he said, "Whatever is happening in the party is not because of me but because of a supporter of Akhilesh." Without directly naming Ramgopal Yadav, Singh hinted that he was the source of the trouble.
Party Under Akhilesh is the Real Party: Ram Gopal Yadav
Reiterating his earlier statement, Ram Gopal Yadav on Friday said that the “party under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav is the real Samajwadi Party and should be seen so. The cycle symbol must be allotted to us”.
He further informed that the Akhilesh camp will submit documents and affidavits regarding the same today. The camp met loyalists in Lucknow on Thursday to collect signed affidavits to present to the poll body to also claim the party symbol.
“Out of 229 MLAs, 212 have signed the affidavit. 56 out of 68 MLCs, 15 out of 24 MPs have signed the affidavit. We will submit them to the EC today”.
The two warring factions in the Samajwadi Party – one led by patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and the other by son and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav – are likely to come together again on Friday as the two meet to discuss the ongoing political conflict in the party.
A Ray of Hope?
A meeting between Mulayam Singh Yadav, Shivpal Yadav and Amar Singh is underway at Mulayam Singh’s residence right now.
Earlier in the day, Shivpal Yadav arrived at Akhilesh’s house for a meeting. At the same time, Amar Singh reached Mulayam’s residence.
The meeting comes after a four-hour long meeting at Mulayam’s residence on Thursday night. Both Amar Singh and Shivpal Yadav were also present at the meeting.