Rare bonhomie, Yadav family feud over?

Shahira Naim

Tribune News Service

Lucknow, October 20

Mulayam Singh Yadav’s family which has been at daggers drawn for the last nine months appeared to have made on the occasion of Diwali where they were seen smiling in one happy family photo.

Despite speculations about the family war intensifying after Mulayam and Shivpal Yadav were dropped from newly constituted Samajwadi party national executive on October 16, the first family seems to have made up, sending a positive message down the ranks and files.

Sinking factional differences after months, Mulayam, his son Akhilesh and brother Shivpal were in their ancestral village of Safai in Etawah. Akhilesh reportedly touched his estranged uncle Shivpal’s feet and sought his blessings.

In recent months, warring Mulayam-Shivpal faction and Akhilesh-Ramgopal faction were taking great care to avoid each other by not visiting their village at the same time. Speaking in Safai, Mulayam said the Samajwadi Party had made a mark in state and national politics by the sheer strength of the family.

Recently elevated to the rank of principal general secretary Ramgopal Yadav, however, was missing from the Diwali happy family frame.

A few days ago, Mulayam had gone to meet cousin Ramgopal at his house in Safai. Whatever transpired between the two is not known. But Ramgopal, who brothers Mulayam and Shivpal blame for instigating Akhilesh against them, was conspicuous by his absence during the Diwali celebrations.

The family feud had been simmering ever since then SP national president Mulayam abetted by Ramgopal had chosen Akhilesh as the CM candidate in 2012, sidelining his younger brother Shivpal Yadav.

Matter came to a head when just months before the Vidhan Sabha election, Mulayam replaced son Akhilesh with brother Shivpal as the state president. In retaliation, Akhilesh Yadav dismissed Shivpal and a few other ministers close to him from his ministry.

Finally on New Year’s day, at a hurriedly convened extraordinary convention of the SP, Akhilesh was named national president and Mulayam the mentor of the party.

Together at ancestral village

Mulayam Singh Yadav, his son Akhilesh and brother Shivpal celebrated Diwali together at their ancestral village of Safai in Etawah. Akhilesh reportedly touched his estranged uncle Shivpal’s feet and sought his blessings. The trio looked one happy family, sending a positive message down the ranks and files that all was well among Yadavs despite Mulayam and Shivpal being dropped from newly constituted SP national executive