Akhilesh Yadav not mulling any action against Shivpal

LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday dropped broad hints that he won’t initiate any disciplinary action against his estranged uncle Shivpal Yadav who recently floated a political party. Akhilesh said that he won’t take any step that may be seen as ‘injustice’ to anyone.
On being asked if, as party president, he was contemplating disciplinary action against Shivpal who recently floated Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) despite being a sitting party MLA from Jaswantnagar, Akhilesh said, “ Samajwadi Party aisa kaam nahi karegi jisse anyay hota dikhe. (SP will not do anything which may appear to be injustice).”

When probed on the political challenge that Shivpal’s new party may pose to SP in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Akhilesh said the fight was directly with BJP. “We have to take on BJP, not its A, B, C, D teams.”

SP chief ’s statements clearly indicated that he did not want to get into any mudslinging with senior party leaders who were unwilling to tow the party line or were speaking against him.

“Shivpal ji is a senior member of Yadav family and this fact can never change irrespective of any political affiliation. This apart, the party is determined to focus on targeting BJP and not to deviate from its target,” said a senior SP leader, explaining why Akhilesh not responding to Shivpal’s barbs at him.

Shivpal had earlier launched a political front Samajwadi Secular Morcha before announcing that his party has been registered with Election Commission of India and that it will contest all seats in UP except against Mulayam from Mainpuri constituency in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Shivpal had been repeatedly saying that he was forced to launch a new party as he was not being given due honour and respect in SP. Since Shivpal has launched a new party without leaving SP, analysts have been doubting his continuance in SP and as sitting MLA.