Lucknow: On the eve of the final phase of polls in UP, the Samajwadi war took a new turn with Mrs Sadhana Gupta Yadav, the second wife of Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav, saying she now wants her son Prateek Yadav to join politics.
Prateek’s wife Aparna is the SP’s candidate from Lucknow Cantonment Assembly seat.
In an interview to a news agency on Tuesday, a day before the final phase of polling is held in UP, Mrs Yadav said she would now assert herself and not tolerate the humiliation of Netaji (Mulayam).
Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, when asked, said he had no knowledge of the interview but added anyone was welcome to join politics. Mrs Yadav clearly expressed her displeasure over the recent family feud. She hoped Mr Akhilesh Yadav would live up to his promise and return the president’s post to Netaji.
However, she clarified there were no differences between her and Akhilesh and he always treated her with respect. “He has been misled by some people, otherwise he would not have done what he did.”
The interview, meanwhile, has again put the Samajwadi Party in a state of turmoil with senior leaders apprehensive that a fresh round of family war may begin even before the election results are out.
Mrs Yadav also commented on the family feud. “I feel bad about what happened in the family. A chief secretary was transferred and people said I was behind it. This is false, though I wish I was so powerful. However, no matter what, nobody should have disrespected Netaji, it is he who founded and nurtured the party,” she said.
Mrs Yadav said she too was insulted and would not step back now though she had remained behind the scene all these years.
“Ab hum peeche nahi hatenge, mera bohot apmaan hua hai.”
She denied the strife had anything to do with her. “I always treated Akhilesh like my own son and made a lot of sacrifices. We never realised when Akhilesh changed. Now I want to give a befitting reply to those who are responsible for all this.” she said.
