Wrap-up: What lies behind the uneasy truce

Both Akhilesh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav have their own strengths. The Akhilesh camp is aware that unlike his uncle, the Chief Minister does not have major grassroots support and this could prove him costly in the long run. Akhilesh might be the face of the party, but his camp is aware that in the organisation, after “Netaji” it is Shivpal. And the youngest of the Yadav brothers, Shivpal had been working with Mulayam Singh Yadav for decades.

Also, it was Shivpal Yadav along with Mulayam Singh Yadav, who got expelled leader, Amar Singh back into the party fold. Today, Amar Singh is Rajya Sabha MP. It may be recalled that Ram Gopal Yadav and Akhilesh have blamed “outsider” for the fight. Now Akhilesh and his camp want  him out. Making it clear that Akhilesh and Shivpal cannot survive for long in the same outfit, an SP functionary said, “Ek mayan mein doh talwar nahi rahe sakti,” (There cannot be two swords in one scabbard)”

The portfolios taken away from Mr Shivpal Yadav, which triggered the political fight,  will be returned to him. Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav would play a major role in ticket distribution for the ensuing state polls. Mr Akhilesh Yadav will reinstate Gayatri Prajapati who was earlier sacked as a minister The merger of the Qaumi Ekta Dal with Samajwadi Party is also likely to be formalised now.

Family Matters
Patch-up in the Yadav family appeared to be on the cards with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav announcing on Friday that his disgruntled uncle Shivpal Yadav will be given back his portfolios and Gayatri Prajapati will be reinducted as a Cabinet minister, issues which had triggered an all-out war. The announcements were made as per the compromise formula worked out by Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav who said that “There can be no division in the party, till I am there.” The patch up came after Mulayam held discussions with brother Shivpal and son Akhilesh. Shivpal had on Thursday resigned as a minister and as state unit head.

DC Take

Feuds and that too in political families are nothing new. Politicians with independent personalities tend to test political waters. Seen from this perspective, what happened in Samajwadi Party seems to be just another incident. But given the fact that UP goes to polls soon, such fights are certainly not good for the party.