Lucknow, October 25: Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Tuesday refused to answer any controversial question as he faced a barrage of queries from media persons on the rift in the family and the party.
After Monday’s ugly spat between Akhilesh Yadav and Mulayam's brother Shivpal Yadav following the sacking of four ministers including Shivpal, Mulayam called a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon. Expecting that he would throw some light on the issues plaguing the ruling party and the family, media representatives asked controversial questions. Mulayam refused to bite the bait. He said,” I will not give even a single controversial answer, no matter how many controversial questions you may ask.’
However, he rather meekly tried to convey that there were no differences within the family or in Uttar Pradesh's ruling party and all were "united", signalling an end to days of bitter infighting.
"Our family is united, the party is united... We stand united with full strength," Mulayam Singh said.
Akhilesh Yadav, the UP chief minister and Mulayam’s son was conspicuously absent from the press meet.
Asked if Shivpal Yadav and other ministers sacked by Akhilesh Yadav would be reinstated, Mulayam Singh said he would leave this decision to the Chief Minister.
Mulayam dismissed the proposition of changing the chief minister and taking the reins in his hands. He said, “Only 2 months left for polls, why think this now?
This should be seen as a victory for Akhilesh Yadav, even if temporarily.
Mulayam Singh Yadav once again maintained the suspense on Akhilesh as the chief minister if the party comes back to power in 2017.
The Samajwadi Party chief is said to have brokered peace between his son, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and the party's Uttar Pradesh unit president Shivpal Yadav.
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