Having won the battle within the party and having cobbled together an alliance with the Congress, Akhilesh Yadav, hitting the campaign trail from Sultanpur on Tuesday, said that the recent feud within the family was a struggle to uphold “socialist” values in interest of the people.
“The battle was long and fought at various levels, but it had to be done to uphold socialist values," he said. "Other people (read opposition) have their own interpretation of it, but for us it was for the sake of samajwad... this was a struggle in your interest,” Akhilesh was quoted by Times of India in its report as saying.
Akhilesh was in a bitter battle with his father and party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav and uncle Shivpal Yadav for the control over the party and its symbol for over four months. On January 16, the Election Commission recognised Akhilesh as the party president and gave him the symbol ‘cycle’.
Akhilesh kicked off his campaign from BJP leader Varun Gandhi’s bastion with controversial Samajwadi Party leader Gayatri Prajapati by his side, drawing ridicule from BJP, which dubbed the "tainted" minister the new SP chief's brand ambassador.
Akhilesh not only shared the stage with Prajapati, but went a step further by telling the audience that he (Gayatri) would not only win his seat, but ensure victory of other SP candidates in the adjoining areas.
"Gayatri Prajapati is sitting on the stage. He will not only win his seat (Amethi), but also ensure that other SP candidates in the nearby constituencies come out triumphant," the Chief Minister said in his new role as the SP national president.
Shivpal found no mention in the list of party’s 40 ‘star campaigners’ for the Assembly polls.
The former PWD Minister, who enjoyed the number two status in the state government, has since fallen from grace of Akhilesh Yadav, who wrested control of the party from his father.
He has been already axed as the state unit chief and replaced by Akhilesh loyalist Naresh Uttam and been relegated to a virtual nobody in the party.
Shivpal was not present at the press conference where Akhilesh released the party's manifesto on January 22. Even SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav was conspicuous by his absence though he turned up at the SP headquarters long after the event was over, blaming his delay on traffic chaos.
