Akhilesh aka Tipu Closes in to Become Sultan of Samajwadi Party

When Shivpal Singh Yadav drove down to CM Akhilesh Yadav's residence on Vikramaditya Marg in Lucknow, he did expect his nephew to concede some ground.

It was a short 20-minute rendezvous with both decorum and due courtesies extended. Shivpal sought to know from his nephew why he thought that there were conspiracies being hatched within. He asked for proof. On Amar Singh he said clearly, that the reinduction of the MP was cleared by Mulayam Singh himself.

The recent acrimony notwithstanding, Shivpal was however expecting that some leeway would be extended by the nephew. At the end of the meeting, Akhilesh did come out to see off the uncle. But extended no olive branch.

Sources close to Shivpal indicated a detente would have been possible had all departments been restored to the aggrieved uncle. But with no signs of Akhilesh conceding anything, Shivpal returned home to his Kalidas Marg residence. At 9pm, Shivpal wrote his resignation, from the ministry and as Samajwadi Party state president, and asked one of his aides to personally deliver it to Mulayam and Akhilesh.

"If he had resigned only from the government, that would have given an impression that Shivpal was willing to continue as state president. Now he has put the ball in Mulayam's court", said a source close to Shivpal.

By midnight the family feud had spilled on to the streets of Lucknow. Shivpal supporters gathered outside Kalidas Marg in their show of solidarity. With both sides unrelenting, Shivpal, his aides say, may move out of his ministerial house by Friday evening.Also Read: The Invisible Hands of Amar Singh Rock SP Boat Once Again

With elections round the corner, Mulayam has a tough task ahead of him to placate warring factions. He cannot completely isolate his brother who is seen to be an organisation man. On the other hand, the party cannot in public perception give an impression that a patch-up of any kind has weakened the CM's position.

For now, Mulayam Junior seems to be attempting to settle unresolved leadership issues before the end of his term in office.

Tipu (Akhilesh's nickname), as someone said, is closing in to emerge as the sultan of SP.