The renewal of public display of acrimony between party chief Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Yadav has led to a fresh spate of sackings in the Samajwadi Party.
After Mr. Shivpal announced that a “secular morcha” would soon be formed under the leadership of Mulayam Singh, his nephew Akhilesh has sacked at least half-a-dozen office-bearers for “anti-party activities.” Those who were axed include Shivpal loyalists.
Immediately after Mr. Shivpal had announced his “secular morcha” plan, Mr. Akhilesh had warned that he knew how to identify “asteen ka saanp (snake hiding under the sleeves).
On Monday, the SP sacked Chandra Shekhar, a block pramukh from Barabanki for “anti-party activities.”
The party also sacked its Moradabad city president Rajkumar Prajapati, replacing him with Shoaib Hasan Pasha.
A day earlier SP State president Naresh Uttam expelled with the “approval” of Mr. Akhilesh, five SP leaders, including Dipak Mishra, a key aide of Mr. Shivpal and also his alleged ghost-writer.
Along with Mr. Mishra, who was SP spokesperson under the tenure of Mr. Shivpal last year, the party also sacked Rajesh Yadav of Hardoi, former SP spokesperson Mohammad Shahid, Rakesh Yadav, former Noida city head and Kallu Yadav, yuvajan sabha head of Noida.
“The office-bearers and former officials have been expelled from the party for indulging in anti-party activities, indiscipline and defiance of party instructions,” SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said.
On May 6, the SP expelled former Auraiya district unit president Rambabu Yadav for similar reasons.
