Samajwadi Party State president Shivpal Yadav on Monday expelled seven leaders — three MLCs, who are part of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s core group, and four heads of party organisations.
In his order, Mr. Yadav said the seven were expelled for “derogatory remarks” against party supremo Mulayam Singh, “anti-party activities” and “indiscipline.”
The sacked MLCs are Sanjay Lathar, Sunil Singh Yadav alias ‘Sunil Sajan’ and Anand Bhadauria.
The expelled youth leaders are Mohammad Ebad, State president of the Mulayam Singh Youth Brigade; Brijesh Yadav, State president of the Yuvajan Sabha; Gaurav Dubey, national president of the Mulayam Singh Youth Brigade; and Digvijay Singh Dev, State president of the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha, the students’ wing.
All the seven had opposed Mr. Shivpal Yadav’s promotion as State chief.
The expelled members had led the protests at the Samajwadi Party headquarters on Saturday, demanding Mr. Akhilesh Yadav’s reinstatement as State party chief. The open and vociferous defiance, unprecedented in the SP, incurred the wrath of Mr. Mulayam Singh, prompting Mr. Akhilesh Yadav to urge his supporters to withdraw the protest.
Following the expulsions, several youth office-bearers of the party and district presidents submitted their resignations, which have been accepted by Mr. Shivpal Yadav.
Pradeep Tiwari, State president of the Samawadi Party Lohia Vahini, in his resignation letter, said that since Mr. Shivpal Yadav took over as State chief, the youth were feeling “stifled” and the attack on the youth leaders was a “big assault” on Mr. Akhilesh’s future.
A prominent Akhilesh loyalist and youth leader from Allahabad, Abhishek Yadav said: “The party’s future depends on Akhilesh Yadav and he should get a free hand.” However, the resignations were promptly accepted by Mr. Shivpal Yadav on the “directions” of Mr Mulayam Singh.
Observers speculated if Akhilesh Yadav would respond to the purge of his loyalists as he is set to chair a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
On Sunday, within hours of taking over the office and warning party workers against factionalism, Mr. Shivpal Yadav sacked Arvind Pratap Yadav, MLC and nephew of Rajya Sabha member Ramgopal Yadav.
Mr. Ramgopal Yadav, cousin of both Mr. Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mr. Shivpal Yadav, backs Mr. Akhilesh Yadav in the internal tussle in the family. Mr. Arvind Pratap was elected unopposed to the legislative council earlier this year.
A former pradhan from Etawah’s Saifai block, Akhilesh Kumar Yadav, was also expelled for anti-party activities on Sunday.
Mr. Sunil Singh Yadav and Mr. Bhadauria are being expelled for the second time — last December they were expelled for “anti-party” activities during the zila panchayat polls.
The decision was taken at the behest of Mr. Shivpal Yadav, though Mr. Akhilesh Yadav was the State party chief then. A miffed Mr. Akhilesh Yadav had then stayed away from the inaugural ceremony of the Saifai Mahotsav, the annual party jamboree.
