In wake of UP drama, Maharashtra SP unit chooses Akhilesh over Netaji

Even as Uttar Pradesh’s first political family, the Yadav clan, is going through a major turmoil, the party’s only MLA outside Uttar Pradesh has a message for Mulayam Singh Yadav. Abu Asim Azmi, the Samajwadi Party’s top leader in Mumbai, has reiterated his support to Akhilesh Yadav, saying, “Dear Netaji (Mulayam), do not take away the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav. You gave him power and now if you take it away, we won’t win in Uttar Pradesh.”

Mr Azmi has also said that Amar Singh is trying to play politics within the Yadav family.

The Asian Age spoke to both Mr Azmi and his son, Farhan Azmi, and they, in one voice, blamed Amar Singh as the reason behind the feud in the Yadav family.

Mr Azmi said, “Minus Netaji, the Samajwadi Party amounts to zero. He brought in Amar Singh, a man who had erected a party to contest against the Samajwadi Party. He spoke evil about Netaji when he was expelled. But now, since he has come back, he is trying to play politics. Netaji made Akhilesh the chief minister, he gave him power, and now he is accepted as the leader of the party. Netaji is our leader, but without Akhilesh, we won’t be able to win the elections in Uttar Pradesh.”

Mr Azmi further said since the time Mr Singh re-entered the party, he has again become a favourite of Mulayam’s, but it is because of him that many top leaders such as Raj Babbar, Beni Prasad Verma and others have left the party. “Amar Singh made Akhilesh the state head, and later Shivpal. We request Netaji to let Akhilesh take the lead. He can yell at Akhilesh, but only Akhilesh should lead the party in Uttar Pradesh,” said Mr Azmi.

Farhan Azmi, who is the leader of the party’s youth wing in Maharashtra, has claimed that wherever Mr Singh goes, he causes a feud, and is doing the same in the Samajwadi Party.

“I don’t mind calling a spade a spade, Amar Singh is the reason for the feud. However, I am sure all will be fine in the end. This is a storm and it will pass. Akhilesh Yadav is the person who is leading the party in UP as the chief minister,” Farhan Azmi said.

He added that Mr Singh has interrupted proceedings at several levels in the party and this needs to be stopped.

“Akhilesh Yadav is the face of the party. No one is in any mood to choose who their leader is. All the party workers will stick with the party. We are expecting things to proceed on track,” Farhan Azmi said.