SP war at times comedy, sometimes melody, will end in tragedy, says Naidu

New Delhi: Commenting on the family tussle in the Samajwadi Party, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting M. Venkaiah Naidu said on Sunday that the issue at times a comedy, sometimes a melody, and will end in a tragedy in the upcoming state assembly polls for the party.

"It is a drama, a family drama. At times it is a comedy, sometimes it is a melody, but it will end in a tragedy," said Naidu.

"The people will reject the party in the upcoming elections. Due to this family feud, they have been further weakened," he added.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Sunday again expelled general secretary Ramgopal Yadav for six years.

Ramgopal Yadav earlier in the day called on SP leaders and workers to declare Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav as president in place of his father Mulayam Singh Yadav.

In a statement that suggested that the Samajwadi Party may be heading for a split, Ramgopal Yadav, addressing a party convention at the Janeshwar Mishra Park in Lucknow, said that the National Executive of the Samajwadi Party also wants Shivpal Yadav to be removed as president of the SP's Uttar Pradesh unit and the sacking of Amar Singh immediately.

"This National Executive unanimously elects Akhilesh Yadav ji as the national president of Samajwadi Party. The state president, Shivpal Yadav, has been taking wrong decisions in the name of Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav)," said Ramgopal Yadav.

In his address to the gathering, Akhilesh said that as the son of Mulayam Singh Yadav, it was his duty and responsibility to ensure that any conspiracy against the latter is squashed and he would firmly take up such a challenge should it arise.

He said that in his eyes, "Netaji" (Mulayam Singh Yadav) occupies the highest and most important position in the Samajwadi Party.

Ahead of the convention, Mulayam Singh Yadav on Sunday sent a letter to party workers asking them not to attend the national executive meet called by Ram Gopal Yadav.

"The meet called by Ram Gopal is against the constitution of the party. It is against the discipline of the party and has been organised to harm the image of the party. Hence, one should not attend this meet," Mulayam wrote in his letter.

The letter further stated that to attend any such meet or to sign any proposal would be considered as undisciplined and merit strict action against the guilty.

The national convention was called by Ram Gopal on an emergency basis two days ago.

The convention was expected to discuss proposals for appointment of Akhilesh as the national president, removal of Shivpal Yadav as the party state chief and removal of tainted candidates from the party list.

In a dramatic turn of events, the Samajwadi Party on Saturday revoked the expulsion of Akhilesh Yadav and Ramgopal Yadav, a day after they were ousted from the party for six years over anti-party activities.