In a shocking development, party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav expelled his son and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and his cousin Ram Gopal Yadav from the party for six years.
#WATCH Akhilesh kya maafi mangega woh toh ladta hai, pita (father) manta hoga toh dekha jayega, says SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav pic.twitter.com/3RODK9uQKQ
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 30, 2016
Calling it as a move to save the party, he said the party will decide on the new chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.
To save the party, we have expelled both Ram Gopal and Akhilesh Yadav for six years from the party: SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav pic.twitter.com/dzJZTft0lk
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 30, 2016
He said, “I have worked really hard to make this party, what was their role in this? I work hard and they reap the fruits?”
The SP chief accused Ram Gopal of indulging in anti-party activities and said that he was weakening the party ahead of the assembly elections. He also accused his son Akhilesh Yadav for siding with Ram Gopal Yadav in the party infighting.
Meanwhile, frenzied Akhilesh supporters gathered in front of the CM’s residence to show their support and protest against the drastic step.
Lucknow-Supporters gather outside Akhilesh Yadav’s residence, raise slogans in his support after SP Chief expelled UP CM for 6 yrs frm party pic.twitter.com/Ulj0RwnYPb
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 30, 2016
Reacting to the sudden expulsion, Ram Gopal Yadav Ramgopal has called this decision “illegal”, and accused party chief of indulging in “unconstitutional” activities.
He has also called an emergency meeting of SP on January 1.
This is unconstitutional as both of us were expelled 2 hours after they gave the notice & without listening to our answers: Ram Gopal Yadav pic.twitter.com/ZjfebQ2crT
— ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016