Ahead of the Samajwadi Party’s national executive meeting in Agra, Akhilesh Yadav & uncle Shivpal have spoken twice, and the rift between them seems to be mending.
Agra: The feud within Uttar Pradesh’s foremost political family could be on the verge of ending.
On Tuesday, a day before the Samajwadi Party’s national executive meeting in Agra, party president and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav called up his uncle, senior leader Shivpal Yadav, and spoke to him for a few minutes.
Shivpal congratulated his nephew in advance for getting re-elected as the party’s national president at the executive meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday.
Asked about the phone call, Akhilesh said: “Sometimes I get the benefit of being the younger one in the family. Yes, I called him, and he blessed me and congratulated me.”
Sources told ThePrint that the call was part of ongoing efforts to reunite the warring Yadav parivar, which are being spearheaded by party founder and Akhilesh’s father Mulayam Singh Yadav. This wasn’t even the first phone call between the two leaders over a possible reconciliation – sources said a few days ago, Shivpal had called Akhilesh from Mulayam’s Lucknow residence.
“There is communication from both sides, and things are heading in a positive direction,” a source close to the development told ThePrint.
This is the Samajwadi Party’s first regular convention that won’t feature either Mulayam or Shivpal. Sources say Mulayam was willing to attend, but has remained in Lucknow due to health issues.
Along with re-electing Akhilesh, the party is also expected to pass an amendment to its constitution, which would increase the terms of office-bearers from three to five years.