Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav broke down on Monday morning at a Samajwadi Paty (SP) meeting in Lucknow, saying that he had no intentions of forming a new party despite his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav's claims.
Shivpal, SP leader and former state cabinet minister, during his address to the party workers alleged that he recently met Akhilesh and that he is planning to form a new party by allying with some other party. Singh said, "I was told that he (Akhilesh) will form a new party. I swear on Gangajal."
Akhilesh clarified his stand on the matter by saying, "People are saying that a new party will be formed. Who is forming the new party, definitely not me."
Soon after the UP chief minister dropped his uncle from the state cabinet on Saturday, Shivpal announced that his cousin Ram Gopal Yadav has been expelled from the party for "conspiring with the BJP."
Akhilesh also said that had party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav asked for his resignation, he would have tendered it. "If Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) would have asked for my resignation, I would have given it," Akhilesh said.
Mulayam also expressed sadness at the meeting, saying that everyone has worked really hard for the party and that he is saddened to see such a rift now. "Instead of fighting our weaknesses, we are fighting among ourselves," Mulayam said.
He also assured workers that his son will not be removed from the party. He referred to the alleged rift caused in the party by Amar Singh.
"I can't leave Amar Singh or Shivpal Yadav. All of Amar Singh's sins are forgiven," Mulayam said. Amar Singh is said to one of the key triggers which led to the which led to the rift in the party and caused the family fued.
Reports stated that after an argument at the dais between Mulayam and son, the UP chief minister left the meeting and headed towards his official residence.
