<p>The disqualifications of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and party member Ram Gopal Yadav were never taken back on paper.</p>

<p>Sources said revoking the duo&#39;s disqualification was conditional. It was decided that both Akhilesh and Ram Gopal would not conduct the party&#39;s national convention but they went ahead, and hence their disqualifications were not revoked.</p>

<p>Ram Gopal was sacked on January 1 for the third time by party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav after he declared Akhilesh the new national president of the Samajwadi Party at a special national party convention.</p>

<p>Mulayam termed the national convention &quot;unconstitutional&quot; and dismissed the proposals passed in it as &quot;illegal&quot;.</p>

<p>A letter issued by Mulayam blamed Ram Gopal for &#39;conspiring&#39; to harm the party.</p>

<p>Only the party president can call a&nbsp;convention, and not disqualified members.</p>

<p>On December 30, the feud-riddled Samajwadi Party had hurtled towards a split after Mulayam expelled Akhilesh and Ram Gopal from the party for six years.</p>

<p>The shock move came a day after Akhilesh, the party patriarch&#39;s son, came up with his own list of 235 candidates for the assembly polls.</p>

<p>As the crisis within the Samajwadi Party refuses to die down, Ram Gopal is schedule to meet with the officials of Election Commission to stake claim for the party symbol &#39;Cycle&#39;.</p>

<p>Mulayam, and senior leaders Amar Singh, Shivpal Singh Yadav and Jaya Prada met the Election Commission yesterday over the same issue.</p>

<p>Mulayam on Monday postponed the January 5 emergency convention. No fresh date has been announced for the convention.</p>

<p>(ANI)</p>


The duo's disqualification was not revoked because they went ahead with the party's national convention

The disqualifications of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and party member Ram Gopal Yadav were never taken back on paper. Sources said revoking the duo's disqualification was conditional. It was decided that both Akhilesh and Ram Gopal would not conduct the party's national convention but they went ahead, and hence their disqualifications were not revoked. Ram Gopal was sacked on January 1 for the third time by party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav after he declared Akhilesh the new national president of the Samajwadi Party at a special national party convention. Mulayam termed the national convention "unconstitutional" and dismissed the proposals passed in it as "illegal". A letter issued by Mulayam blamed Ram Gopal for 'conspiring' to harm the party. Only the party president can call a convention, and not disqualified members. On December 30, the feud-riddled Samajwadi Party had hurtled towards a split after Mulayam expelled Akhilesh and Ram Gopal from the party for six years. The shock move came a day after Akhilesh, the party patriarch's son, came up with his own list of 235 candidates for the assembly polls. As the crisis within the Samajwadi Party refuses to die down, Ram Gopal is schedule to meet with the officials of Election Commission to stake claim for the party symbol 'Cycle'. Mulayam, and senior leaders Amar Singh, Shivpal Singh Yadav and Jaya Prada met the Election Commission yesterday over the same issue. Mulayam on Monday postponed the January 5 emergency convention. No fresh date has been announced for the convention. (ANI)

Yadav vs Yadav: Akhilesh, Ram Gopal's disqualifications were never taken back on paper

<p>The infighting within Uttar Pradesh&#39;s ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) reached a crescendo after the party&#39;s general secretary, Ramgopal Yadav, declared chief minister Akhilesh Yadav as the party&#39;s national president in place of his father Mulayam Singh Yadav.</p>

<p>Mulayam Singh retaliated by expelling Ramgopal, who is also his cousin, for six years -- for the second time in three days and the third time since October. He also called the National Executive meet called by Ramgopal &quot;unconstitutional&quot; and &quot;illegal&quot;, since it was called without consulting him, the party&#39;s national secretary.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mulayam Singh Yadav terms today&#39;s National Exec meet called by Ramgopal Yadav as unconstitutional &amp; decisions taken in the meet as illegal</p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/815478773889912832">January 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&quot;The parliamentary board of the party declares all the proposals, decisions and the convention itself illegal and expels Ram Gopal, who convened the convention, for six years,&quot; the letter stated.</p>

<p>Mulayam Singh has called a party convention of his own on January 5 in the state capital, Lucknow. He had earlier issued a letter asking party workers not to attend the National Executive meet called by Ramgopal Yadav.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mulayam Singh Yadav writes letter to party workers, asks them not to attend National Executive meet called by Ramgopal Yadav <a href="https://t.co/cigXo5sSn8">pic.twitter.com/cigXo5sSn8</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/815430590266687488">January 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Soon after he was declared party president, Akhilesh Yadav said, &quot;If there is a conspiracy against Netaji or the party then it will be my responsibility as son to stand against conspirators,&quot; PTI reported.</p>

<p>Akhilesh defended his step, saying the decision was a tough one but one he &quot;had to take&quot;. He will reportedly move the Election Commission tomorrow, staking a claim to the party&#39;s symbol, the cycle, sources told news agency ANI.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sometimes to protect the ones you love you must make the right decision. What I did today was a tough decision but one that I had to take. <a href="https://t.co/M5xZYEZhii">pic.twitter.com/M5xZYEZhii</a></p>
&mdash; Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) <a href="https://twitter.com/yadavakhilesh/status/815588811854008320">January 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the National Executive&nbsp;meet called by him, Ramgopal also removed&nbsp;Shivpal Yadav from the post of president of the SP&#39;s state unit and &quot;sacked&quot;&nbsp;Amar Singh from the party.</p>

<p>Party vice-president Kiranmoy Nanda, who was also expelled from the party for attending the meeting, told ANI, &quot;My best wishes to Akhilesh on becoming party president. He will work under the leadership and guidance of Netaji.&quot;</p>

<p>Akhilesh Yadav&#39;s supporters removed Shivpal Yadav&#39;s nameplate from the party office in Lucknow.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">CM Akhilesh Yadav&#39;s supporters create chaos at Samajwadi Party&#39;s office in Lucknow, remove Shivpal Yadav&#39;s nameplate from party office <a href="https://t.co/agCxxgCfOs">pic.twitter.com/agCxxgCfOs</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/815518411560095745">January 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>They earlier celebrated outside the SP office after he was elected president at the national executive.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash">#WATCH</a>: Akhilesh supporters dance and celebrate outside SP office in Lucknow after he was elected SP&#39;s Pres at today&#39;s national executive <a href="https://t.co/UvAYKq0ozS">pic.twitter.com/UvAYKq0ozS</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/815530221671567360">January 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Lucknow: Akhilesh supporters dance and celebrate outside SP office after he was elected SP&#39;s president at today&#39;s national executive <a href="https://t.co/ahGsHAPSY4">pic.twitter.com/ahGsHAPSY4</a></p>
&mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/815527166444081152">January 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>Mulayam Singh&#39;s letter, meanwhile,&nbsp;makes no mention of Akhilesh Yadav. It states that the candidates&#39; list issued earlier for the 2017 assembly polls has been endorsed and a decision on the remaining seats will be taken soon.</p>

<p>The father-son trust hit a low in mid-August when Akhilesh got into an acrimonious power struggle with his uncle, Shivpal Yadav.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Things took a turn for the worse on December 30 after Akhilesh &quot;circulated&quot; his own list of 235 candidates for the upcoming state elections parallel to the party&#39;s official list of 393 nominees. He and Ramgopal Yadav were expelled from the party for six years the same day by Mulayam Singh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, father and son met the next day and Mulayam Singh revoked the suspension, saying he and Akhilesh would jointly prepare the list of election candidates.</p>

<p>The election in Uttar Pradesh is the largest regional election in India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from agencies)</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


A convention called by Ram Gopal this morning removed Mulayam Singh from the post of national president, replacing him with Akhilesh Yadav

The infighting within Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) reached a crescendo after the party's general secretary, Ramgopal Yadav, declared chief minister Akhilesh Yadav as the party's national president in place of his father Mulayam Singh Yadav. Mulayam Singh retaliated by expelling Ramgopal, who is also his cousin, for six years -- for the second time in three days and the third time since October. He also called the National Executive meet called by Ramgopal "unconstitutional" and "illegal", since it was called without consulting him, the party's national secretary. Mulayam Singh Yadav terms today's National Exec meet called by Ramgopal Yadav as unconstitutional & decisions taken in the meet as illegal — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 1, 2017 × "The parliamentary board of the party declares all the proposals, decisions and the convention itself illegal and expels Ram Gopal, who convened the convention, for six years," the letter stated. Mulayam Singh has called a party convention of his own on January 5 in the state capital, Lucknow. He had earlier issued a letter asking party workers not to attend the National Executive meet called by Ramgopal Yadav. Mulayam Singh Yadav writes letter to party workers, asks them not to attend National Executive meet called by Ramgopal Yadav pic.twitter.com/cigXo5sSn8 — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 1, 2017 × Soon after he was declared party president, Akhilesh Yadav said, "If there is a conspiracy against Netaji or the party then it will be my responsibility as son to stand against conspirators," PTI reported. Akhilesh defended his step, saying the decision was a tough one but one he "had to take". He will reportedly move the Election Commission tomorrow, staking a claim to the party's symbol, the cycle, sources told news agency ANI. Sometimes to protect the ones you love you must make the right decision. What I did today was a tough decision but one that I had to take. pic.twitter.com/M5xZYEZhii — Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) January 1, 2017 × At the National Executive meet called by him, Ramgopal also removed Shivpal Yadav from the post of president of the SP's state unit and "sacked" Amar Singh from the party. Party vice-president Kiranmoy Nanda, who was also expelled from the party for attending the meeting, told ANI, "My best wishes to Akhilesh on becoming party president. He will work under the leadership and guidance of Netaji." Akhilesh Yadav's supporters removed Shivpal Yadav's nameplate from the party office in Lucknow. CM Akhilesh Yadav's supporters create chaos at Samajwadi Party's office in Lucknow, remove Shivpal Yadav's nameplate from party office pic.twitter.com/agCxxgCfOs — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 1, 2017 × They earlier celebrated outside the SP office after he was elected president at the national executive. #WATCH: Akhilesh supporters dance and celebrate outside SP office in Lucknow after he was elected SP's Pres at today's national executive pic.twitter.com/UvAYKq0ozS — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 1, 2017 × Lucknow: Akhilesh supporters dance and celebrate outside SP office after he was elected SP's president at today's national executive pic.twitter.com/ahGsHAPSY4 — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 1, 2017 × Mulayam Singh's letter, meanwhile, makes no mention of Akhilesh Yadav. It states that the candidates' list issued earlier for the 2017 assembly polls has been endorsed and a decision on the remaining seats will be taken soon. The father-son trust hit a low in mid-August when Akhilesh got into an acrimonious power struggle with his uncle, Shivpal Yadav. Things took a turn for the worse on December 30 after Akhilesh "circulated" his own list of 235 candidates for the upcoming state elections parallel to the party's official list of 393 nominees. He and Ramgopal Yadav were expelled from the party for six years the same day by Mulayam Singh. However, father and son met the next day and Mulayam Singh revoked the suspension, saying he and Akhilesh would jointly prepare the list of election candidates. The election in Uttar Pradesh is the largest regional election in India. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Akhilesh Yadav supporters declare him Samajwadi Party president, Mulayam Singh calls it 'unconstitutional'

<p>Rajya Sabha MP Ramgopal Yadav, who was expelled from the Samajwadi Party in October for six years in the midst of a raging feud in the Yadav clan, was today reinstated in the party.</p>

<p>Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav said the expulsion of his cousin Ramgopal Yadav has been revoked.</p>

<p>&quot;Expulsion of Ramgopal Yadav has been revoked. He will continue as leader of party in the Rajya Sabha, spokesman, party national general secretary and member of party&#39;s national parliamentary board,&quot; Mulayam Singh said in a release issued here.</p>

<p>Ramgopal, who is considered close to Uttar Pradesh&nbsp;Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, was expelled from the party for six years on October 23 on the instructions of the SP supremo.</p>

<p>Ramgopal is a cousin of Mulayam and Shivpal and is considered to play the role of a &quot;think tank&quot;. He had strongly supported Akhilesh in the family feud in the Yadav clan.</p>

<p>While announcing his expulsion, Shivpal had levelled serious allegations against Ramgopal, saying he was working as part of a &quot;conspiracy&quot; in collusion with the BJP to weaken the SP and tarnish the Akhilesh Yadav government&#39;s image.</p>

<p>&quot;Ramgopal had met thrice with top leaders of the saffron party,&quot; Shivpal had said, accusing his cousin of &quot;patronising and shielding corrupt elements.&quot;</p>

<p>Ramgopal was also blamed for the SP&#39;s breakup from the &quot;mahagathbandhan&quot; (grand alliance) in the Bihar election last year.</p>

<p>He was sacked hours after Shivpal and three other ministers considered close to him were sacked from the state cabinet by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
(PTI)</p>


Ramgopal Yadav had strongly supported Akhilesh in the feud involving Uttar Pradesh's prominent political family

Rajya Sabha MP Ramgopal Yadav, who was expelled from the Samajwadi Party in October for six years in the midst of a raging feud in the Yadav clan, was today reinstated in the party. Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav said the expulsion of his cousin Ramgopal Yadav has been revoked. "Expulsion of Ramgopal Yadav has been revoked. He will continue as leader of party in the Rajya Sabha, spokesman, party national general secretary and member of party's national parliamentary board," Mulayam Singh said in a release issued here. Ramgopal, who is considered close to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, was expelled from the party for six years on October 23 on the instructions of the SP supremo. Ramgopal is a cousin of Mulayam and Shivpal and is considered to play the role of a "think tank". He had strongly supported Akhilesh in the family feud in the Yadav clan. While announcing his expulsion, Shivpal had levelled serious allegations against Ramgopal, saying he was working as part of a "conspiracy" in collusion with the BJP to weaken the SP and tarnish the Akhilesh Yadav government's image. "Ramgopal had met thrice with top leaders of the saffron party," Shivpal had said, accusing his cousin of "patronising and shielding corrupt elements." Ramgopal was also blamed for the SP's breakup from the "mahagathbandhan" (grand alliance) in the Bihar election last year. He was sacked hours after Shivpal and three other ministers considered close to him were sacked from the state cabinet by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. (PTI)

India: Mulayam Singh Yadav revokes cousin Ramgopal's expulsion from party

<p>Months ahead of the state elections in northern India&#39;s Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today asserted that the &quot;party and the family are united&quot;. The remark came amid a deepening rift in the ruling party.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>As he addressed a press conference two days after his brother, Shivpal Yadav was sacked from the cabinet for the second time by son and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, the party supremo addressed a press conference flanked by party unit chief, Shivpal, and three other sacked ministers, Indian news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;My family and party are united. All workers are united. There are some conspirators, who do not have any mass base,&quot; he was quoted as saying.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;There is not &#39;matbhed&#39; (difference) or &#39;manbhed&#39; (ill feelings) among our leaders,&quot; Mulayam added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The seasoned political leader also stressed that the party had come to power in 2012 because of him only and still Akhilesh was made the chief minister. He however, ruled out becoming the chief minister if the party is elected again.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also dodged the question about the chief ministerial candidate for 2017. &nbsp;&quot;Ours is a democratic party. First let us get majority and then elected representatives will select their CM. Presently, Akhilesh is CM, does anyone have any problem?&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>When asked if Shivpal will be reinstated to the party, Mulayam said he leaves the decision on Akhilesh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;I leave this to CM.... You ask him why he made them ministers and why he sacked them.&quot;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>(WION with inputs from PTI)&nbsp;</p>


Mulayam said chief minister and son, Akhilesh, will decide if brother Shivpal will be reinstated in the northern state's cabinet

Months ahead of the state elections in northern India's Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today asserted that the "party and the family are united". The remark came amid a deepening rift in the ruling party. As he addressed a press conference two days after his brother, Shivpal Yadav was sacked from the cabinet for the second time by son and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, the party supremo addressed a press conference flanked by party unit chief, Shivpal, and three other sacked ministers, Indian news agency PTI reported. "My family and party are united. All workers are united. There are some conspirators, who do not have any mass base," he was quoted as saying. "There is not 'matbhed' (difference) or 'manbhed' (ill feelings) among our leaders," Mulayam added. The seasoned political leader also stressed that the party had come to power in 2012 because of him only and still Akhilesh was made the chief minister. He however, ruled out becoming the chief minister if the party is elected again. He also dodged the question about the chief ministerial candidate for 2017. "Ours is a democratic party. First let us get majority and then elected representatives will select their CM. Presently, Akhilesh is CM, does anyone have any problem?" When asked if Shivpal will be reinstated to the party, Mulayam said he leaves the decision on Akhilesh. "I leave this to CM.... You ask him why he made them ministers and why he sacked them." (WION with inputs from PTI)

SP turf war: 'Party, family are united,'  says Mulayam as he keeps future plan under wraps

<p>The ruling Samajwadi Party appeared to be headed for a split today as Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his father and&nbsp;party supremo Mulayam Singh were engaged in an open face-off, sacking each other&#39;s loyalists Shivpal Yadav and Ramgopal Yadav.</p>

<p>While Akhilesh sacked Shivpal, his uncle and the party&#39;s state unit chief, along with three other &quot;pro-Amar Singh&quot; ministers from his Cabinet, his father hit back by dismissing Ramgopal, his cousin who is an Akhilesh loyalist&nbsp;and the SP&#39;s national general secretary, from the party for six years.</p>

<p>The fast-paced developments unfolded this morning when Akhilesh held a meeting of party legislators, a day ahead of a mega meeting of party MPs, MLAs, MLCs and ministers called by Mulayam and at which&nbsp;some more tough decisions were expected to be taken.</p>

<p>After the meeting, the chief minister recommended to Governor Ram Naik that Shivpal, Narad Rai and Om Prakash Singh (all cabinet ministers) and Sayeda Shadab Fatima (minister&nbsp;of state,&nbsp;independent charge) be sacked. This was immediately accepted.</p>

<p>While the meeting was underway, hundreds of Akhilesh&#39;s supporters collected outside his residence, raising slogans in his favour.</p>

<p>Significantly, before Akhilesh announced the sacking of Shivpal and the three other ministers, Ramgopal issued a letter written to party workers, expressing support for the chief minister and warning those opposing him.</p>

<p>&quot;Those who oppose Akhilesh won&#39;t be able to show their faces in the legislative assembly. Where Akhilesh is, victory follows,&quot; he said in the letter.</p>

<p>After his sacking, Shivpal met Mulayam at his residence.</p>

<p>Hours later, he announced that the SP chief had expelled Ramgopal from the party for six years.</p>

<p>Shivpal told mediapersons that Ramgopal was colluding with the BJP and had thrice met a senior leader of the saffron party to save himself and his son from a CBI probe in connection with their&nbsp;alleged involvement in the Yadav Singh Noida scam probe.</p>

<p>He said he was not worried about being dropped from the government and declared that the state Assembly elections would be fought under the leadership of Mulayam.</p>

<p>Launching a scathing attack on Ramgopal, Shivpal said he was tarnishing the image of the SP by dabbling in corruption, colluding with the BJP and weakening Mulayam&#39;s leadership.</p>

<p>&quot;On Mulayam&#39;s directive, Ramgopal is being stripped of his posts of party spokesman and national general secretary and is being expelled from the party for six years,&quot; Shivpal said, giving rise to intense speculation about an imminent split.<br />
<br />
(PTI)</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


The chief minister and his father have both sacked each others loyalists, giving rise to intense speculation about an imminent split

The ruling Samajwadi Party appeared to be headed for a split today as Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his father and party supremo Mulayam Singh were engaged in an open face-off, sacking each other's loyalists Shivpal Yadav and Ramgopal Yadav. While Akhilesh sacked Shivpal, his uncle and the party's state unit chief, along with three other "pro-Amar Singh" ministers from his Cabinet, his father hit back by dismissing Ramgopal, his cousin who is an Akhilesh loyalist and the SP's national general secretary, from the party for six years. The fast-paced developments unfolded this morning when Akhilesh held a meeting of party legislators, a day ahead of a mega meeting of party MPs, MLAs, MLCs and ministers called by Mulayam and at which some more tough decisions were expected to be taken. After the meeting, the chief minister recommended to Governor Ram Naik that Shivpal, Narad Rai and Om Prakash Singh (all cabinet ministers) and Sayeda Shadab Fatima (minister of state, independent charge) be sacked. This was immediately accepted. While the meeting was underway, hundreds of Akhilesh's supporters collected outside his residence, raising slogans in his favour. Significantly, before Akhilesh announced the sacking of Shivpal and the three other ministers, Ramgopal issued a letter written to party workers, expressing support for the chief minister and warning those opposing him. "Those who oppose Akhilesh won't be able to show their faces in the legislative assembly. Where Akhilesh is, victory follows," he said in the letter. After his sacking, Shivpal met Mulayam at his residence. Hours later, he announced that the SP chief had expelled Ramgopal from the party for six years. Shivpal told mediapersons that Ramgopal was colluding with the BJP and had thrice met a senior leader of the saffron party to save himself and his son from a CBI probe in connection with their alleged involvement in the Yadav Singh Noida scam probe. He said he was not worried about being dropped from the government and declared that the state Assembly elections would be fought under the leadership of Mulayam. Launching a scathing attack on Ramgopal, Shivpal said he was tarnishing the image of the SP by dabbling in corruption, colluding with the BJP and weakening Mulayam's leadership. "On Mulayam's directive, Ramgopal is being stripped of his posts of party spokesman and national general secretary and is being expelled from the party for six years," Shivpal said, giving rise to intense speculation about an imminent split. (PTI)

India: Samajwadi Party on brink of split?