CM has right to allocate portfolios, won't challenge him: Shivpal Yadav

Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Shivpal Yadav on Thursday said that he will not challenge Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s decision to strip him of all key portfolios in the state cabinet.

According to a report, Shivpal at a press briefing said, “Allocation of portfolios is a chief minister’s prerogative, won’t challenge his decision”.

Asserting that the Samajwadi Party is not in any kind of trouble, party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav on Thursday said if he is given a responsibility, he would work to the fullest to fulfil it.

"Whoever is given responsibility, whatever it be...we have to follow that. The party is not in trouble. If I am given a responsibility, I will work to the fullest for it. Nobody can challenge Netaji's (Mulayam Singh's) decisions. In 2011, when I was the state president, back then I was removed and Akhilesh was given responsibility and I accepted that. Netaji took that decision carefully and after consideration surely," Shivpal told the media.

"I always talk with Netaji. Whenever I want, I talk with him. Whenever I sought an appointment with Chief Minister Akhilesh, I got it. I didn't know that I would be made state president so soon. The decision of departments allocation is of the Chief Minister. It is his right. In what circumstances did he take this decision, we can't raise a question mark over that. We all have to remain united, it is election time and we have to form Government again in 2017. No one has the capacity in our party to disregard what Netaji says," he added.

On being asked if he is fine with Akhilesh being Samajwadi Party's Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister face for 2017 elections, Shivpal said "I accept whatever decision Netaji takes."

Earlier, Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav said the leadership had committed a "mistake" by removing Akhilesh Yadav as party's UP president and that "differences" had arisen due to some "misunderstanding".

Ram Gopal, SP national general secretary and Mulayam's cousin, met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow in a bid to defuse the situation after the CM stripped his uncle and Cabinet Minister Shivpal Yadav of key ministerial portfolios, hours after Mulayam replaced him with Shivpal as the party's state unit chief.

"Differences do take place on some minor point and they can be resolved. The leadership, though not deliberately, had made a mistake when CM was removed from the post of (state) president (of SP)," Ram Gopal, who is known to be close to Mulayam's son Akhilesh, told reporters before the meeting.

"He (CM) should have been asked to resign and he would have tendered it. He could have been told that elections are coming and you continue as CM and the work of state president will be taken care of by him (Shivpal). Some misunderstanding has taken place and there is nothing more to it," he said.

He asserted that there is "no crisis" in Samajwadi Party. "Many times some decisions are made due to which people feel that there is some problem in the party. There is nothing like that. This happens in all parties in different situations," Ram Gopal said.

When asked about the CM's statement that he has taken some decisions on his own, Ram Gopal said, "Whatever decisions the CM has taken were on the directions of party president (Mulayam). Some decisions, he (CM) said, he has taken himself. It is not unnatural that a CM of a state like Uttar Pradesh takes some decisions on his own. It is natural... he should take decisions".

When asked about reports suggesting that Akhilesh will be made working President of SP for damage control, Ram Gopal said, "It's simply gossip."

"When netaji (Mulayam) is President, there is no such question."

Asked about the CM's statement regarding role of "outsiders" in the family tussle, Ram Gopal said, "I will talk to the chief minister as to what he wanted to say.... But there is a general perception in party workers, leaders and people about this...."

On the talk of party's Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh's alleged role, Ram Gopal said, "When you have come to conclusion, what can I say.... I will let you know later."

After meeting the Chief Minister, Ram Gopal refused to divulge any detail and said "everything will be resolved once netaji (Mulayam) and CM will talk.... He is coming to Lucknow tomorrow or day after tomorrow".

However, he was riled by questions on Amar Singh. "There is nothing like mulayamwadi..If someone is not Samajwadi, then how can he be mulayamwadi," he said in response to queries on Singh, who was expelled in 2010 and rejoined the party a few months ago

Ram Gopal said that due to "simplicity" of Mulayam, "those who have nothing to do with party interest are able to take benefit".

"You also know this. Those who have nothing to do with party's interest take benefit of simplicty of netaji.... They harm the party.... All those who met me are saying so," Ram Gopal said.

"He is the same person, who used netaji's simplicity to make an incharge of the party (Shivpal was earlier made SP UP incharge). There is no such post in SP. They say you are being challenged.....There is no one in the party who can challenge netaji," he said.

On making Shivpal the state SP president, Ram Gopal said, "I had issued the order. I was asked to issue it immediately.It was his (Mulayam) order. It was to be complied".

Asked if the Chief Minister was angry with him, Ram Gopal said, "Akhilesh is not angry with anyone".

About the action against Shivpal by Akhilesh, he said, "When there is an action, it will have reaction...."

"After netaji and CM will meet, all will be fine. Whatever netaji will indicate will take place."