“In constantly and fast changing developments that have plagued Uttar Pradesh’s ruling Samajwadi Party over the past week, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has staged a coup in Lucknow by getting himself unanimously elected as the party’s national President replacing his ageing father and party Chief Mulayam Singh.
A resolution to this effect was presented by party general secretary and Akhilesh Yadav’s uncle Ram Gopal Yadav in the Samajwadi Party’s national convention in Lucknow on Sunday which was passed with a voice vote.

In another resolution, Akhilesh’s uncle Shivpal Yadav was removed from the post of state party chief and Amar Singh was expelled from the party with immediate effect.

Addressing the convention, Akhilesh Yadav said that he has highest regards and respect for his father, popularly addressed as `Netaji’ . He said that he will respect Netaji more than ever and if people are conspiring against his father it is his duty to act against them. The Chief Minister also said that a few persons in the party never wanted that Samajwadi party should come to power in the state.

Meanwhile, Mulayam Singh has termed the convention as totally unconstitutional. In a letter issued by the party head-quarters, Mulayam Singh, who abstained from the meeting, said strict action will be taken against those who attend the convention. The convention was held a day after Akhilesh and Ram Gopal Yadav were reinstated in the crisis-hit party following their expulsion for six years.

After the convention, it is clear that a new list of candidates will be issued under the stewardship of Akhilesh Yadav who has been at loggerheads with his father Mulayam Singh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Yadav. .

Mulayam Singh has called an emergency national convention on January 5 to clear the air among common people. He also said that some persons are continuously humiliating the party founder who has put great toil to build the part from scratch.  

Senior party leader and MP Naresh Agrawal has said that Amar Singh is a BJP agent. Kiran Moy Nanda, another close ally of Mulayam Singh also supported Akhilesh Yadav saying now Netaji Mulayam Singh must accept the reality that public wants leadership in the hands of Akhilesh Yadav. He said that every worker of Samajwadi Party whole heartedly respects Mulayam Singh but we can not let the forthcoming election to be put to the risk. 

Akhilesh Yadav also appointed’ Naresh Uttam as Samajwadi Party’s UP unit chief, replacing Shivpal Singh Yadav. All eyes will remain on the developments in Samajwadi Party in the next few days and political scenario in the poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.”