Samajwadi Party’s new state president Shivpal Yadav on Monday expelled from the party seven youth leaders, including three MLCs, loyal to chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. The action was taken reportedly for raising objectionable slogans against party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. Shivpal dismissed Arvind Pratap Yadav, Ramgopal’s nephew and a member of the legislative council, for “indiscipline and anti-party activities” on Sunday, days after party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav tamped down a raging feud between his son and chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and brother Shivpal. In an exclusive interview to HT on Friday, Mulayam had described Ramgopal as his No 2 and said the national secretary had already drawn up a potential list of candidates for the upcoming state polls. Akhilesh and Shivpal have been locked in a fierce battle for control of the party and ticket distribution.

Source: Hindustan Times September 19, 2016 07:52 UTC