EC to give verdict in Samajwadi Party symbol case

Shivpal Yadav presented a calm demeanour when TOI approached him for an exclusive interview on Sunday evening, just hours after he was expelled from the cabinet by nephew Akhilesh Yadav. However , his pain over the manner of expulsion came to the fore shortly.

The Samajwadi Party, for all practical purposes, split on Sunday into rival factions headed by party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son, UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, respectively, in a development that has dented the party's prospects in next year's assembly elections and can have serious implications for who gets to rule India's largest state.

Samajwadi Party's statement that Ram Gopal Yadav was responsible for the party's refusal to join the 'Mahagathbandhan' ahead of Bihar elections is seen as signalling the party's possible willingness to be part of a larger anti-BJP secular alliance in the coming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

SP national chief Mulayam Singh Yadav was said to be "distressed" about son Akhilesh Yadav's failure to defend him during the recent standoff.

Sources revealed that Mulayam was "deeply hurt" by the letters of criticism sent to him by his cousin and party general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav and MLC Udayveer Singh, and upset that Akhilesh chose to remain silent.

Ram Gopal in the letter said, "Mulayam is my elder brother and political guru and I will always respect him." Drawing a Mahabharat parallel and referring to the on-going family feud as a "dharm yudh", Ram Gopal said Mulayam will only understand realities after he is freed from the clutches of the "demonic forces."

Shivpal Singh Yadav's letter to Ram Gopal Yadav after an official announcement was made about latter's expulsion, a short while ago pic.twitter.com/w7Axmr24Lk

& mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 23, 2016

In all, about 170 MLAs attended the meeting called by the CM. The ministers who were sacked had not been invited for the MLA meeting. The CM reportedly told the MLAs at the meeting that the conspiracy against him was hatched at a party hosted by Amar Singh in Delhi last month.

Asking party workers to remain calm in the wake of the ongoing intra-party feud, Shivpal said he was not worried about having been sacked and that the party must, unanimously, focus on preparing for the 2017 assembly polls and winning them.

He is involved with corrupt ppl, Ram Gopal has always misused name of Netaji; had raised this issue at various party forums: Shivpal Yadav pic.twitter.com/znivaE91nK

& mdash; ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 23, 2016

SP family feud is destroying Uttar Pradesh but if this would not have happened they might still be looting people: Yogi Adityanath, BJP MP pic.twitter.com/cLNTTlbwQS

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 23, 2016

#shivpal presser. Will face elections under mulayam Singhs leadership @TOILucknow @timesofindia @samajwadiparty #YadavPariWarII

— Shailvee Sharda (@shailveesTOI) October 23, 2016

Shivpal Yadav at press conference says "not worried" about sacking. Says will go into elections to win on behalf of SP. #SamajwadiPariWAR

— TOI Lucknow News (@TOILucknow) October 23, 2016

Lucknow: Sloganeering in support of Shivpal Yadav at Samajwadi Party office pic.twitter.com/i8SJE0M0SY

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 23, 2016

Lucknow: Senior Samajwadi party leaders leave after meeting Mulayam Singh Yadav pic.twitter.com/MXXSqU9joa

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 23, 2016

Akhilesh ji aap bohot pehle hi expose ho chuke hain, ye natak ab nahi chalega: Srikant Sharma,BJP pic.twitter.com/NvwHhzL2Un

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 23, 2016

Lucknow: Akhilesh Yadav supporters raise slogans against Amar Singh pic.twitter.com/TQ3JsOc2wC

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 23, 2016

FLASH: UP CM Akhilesh Yadav sacks 4 ministers including Shivpal Yadav and OP Singh from the cabinet

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 23, 2016

Reports TOI's Subhash Mishra