Akhilesh-Shivpal Yadav fight has exposed ugly reality of Samajwadi Party

Finally, it was the nephew which prevailed over his uncle.

In the parliamentary board meeting of Samajwadi Party, the ratification of the merger of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's Quami Ekta Dal with Samajwadi Party was thought to be a foregone conclusion. However, on Saturday (June 25), the Samajwadi Party cancelled the merger, just three days after announcing it.

Just a few days back, the Samajwadi Party had seen an open "bloodbath". The merger was done, and a livid chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, who was unaware of the deal, retaliated by sacking a cabinet minister, and the factionalism in the Yadav clan was once again brought to the fore.

Also read: How Mukhtar Ansari can ruin Samajwadi Party's chances in UP elections

After 36 hours of openly protesting a decision which the Uttar Pradesh chief minister felt will damage the party, Akhilesh met Shivpal Yadav and a middle path was worked out that the QED merger will be done minus Ansari and either side will be able to save its face. The message was given that as had happened countless times over the last four years, the hatchet has been buried. Or so it seemed.

When the parliamentary board meeting began, it was a combative Akhilesh who registered his strong protest. This meeting saw the realignment of Akhilesh and Ramgopal Yadav. Akhilesh said that the way QED was inducted into the Samajwadi Party without taking him into confidence was not right.

He said that it not only dented the image of the party but also of the government. Shivpal Yadav said that since Mukhtar Ansari was not part of the deal it didn't make a difference. Akhilesh retorted that this distinction didn't work in the public mind.

Also read: Shivpal Yadav may have crossed a line this time with nephew Akhilesh

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav was very keen on getting sacked state minister Balram Yadav reinducted but didn't wanted to embarrass Akhilesh Yadav. It was then decided to find the middle path by cancelling QED's merger with Samajwadi Party and re-inducting Balram.

This incident has once again brought to the fore the worst kept secret of Uttar Pradesh - that it has not one but four-and-a-half chief ministers and all is not well between Akhilesh, Shivpal and Ramgopal.

Everybody is pushing his own agenda depending on how Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam is disposed to it, and so, there is no one faction which feels comfortable within the Samajwadi Party system.

Every major decision within the party is an exercise of assertion of one faction against another and this continous pull and counter-pull has literally put the party poll preparation in turmoil.

On the issue of Amar Singh's induction, the Shivpal-Akhilesh combine outsmarted an isolated Ramgopal.

Ramgopal openly expressed his displeasure as he was one of the architects behind the exit of Amar Singh from thr party. At that time, it was Akhilesh who sided with Ramgopal. When Amar Singh outsmarted Ramgopal, it was Akhilesh, who along with Shivpal, got Amar Singh back. However, Akhilesh tried to downplay the incident and said, “There can be difference of opinion between individuals in party but Shivpal will always remain my chacha (uncle).”

The way Akhilesh has put his "chacha" Shivpal in check has brought back memories of the time prior to the Uttar Pradesh elections of 2012 when Akhilesh had opposed the induction of DP Yadav in the party when he was being propped up by his Shivpal.

According to sources within the Samajwadi Party, this feud between Akhilesh and Shivpal have to buried at the earliest as it is sending a mixed signal to their constituency. They feel that this feud, with elections less than ten months away, will definitely hurt the Samajwadi Party's chances. “An upset Shivpal can dent electoral prospects of Samajwadi Party in a big way," said a party leader.

People within the party have not forgotten how not a long time ago, under instruction from Mulayam, Shivpal had sacked people close to Akhilesh and a miffed chief minister chose to boycott the Saifai festival.

Later on, they were reinducted into the party. People close to Akhilesh says that caught between his two uncles (Shivpal and Ramgopal), and sometimes even his father Mulayam, an occasional outburst has always embarrassed the young chief minister.

They say that if left on his own Akhilesh would do a much better job. If elections have to be fought under Akhilesh's captaincy and his work is going to be the showcase, then senior leadership of the Samajwadi Party will have to restrain itself.

Meanwhile, the people are waiting for the nth round between chacha and bhatija (nephew) in Uttar Pradesh.