Rift in SP, spokesman Mohan Singh sacked

Samajwadi Party leader Mohan Singh has been removed from the post of national spokesperson after he appeared to defend the possible induction of DP Yadav into the party even as SP’s state president Akhilesh Singh Yadav was vocal in his dismissal of the possibility.

"On direction of Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mohan Singh has been removed from the post of party's national spokesman. Professor Ram Gopal Yadav has been given his charge," Samajwadi Party spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury said.

While Mulayam's brother Shivpal Yadav and another senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan are in favour of inducting DP Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav has repeatedly denied the possibility of the party opening its doors to those with criminal records.

The possibility of DP Yadav joining the SP first appeared on December 30 when he made an unexpected appearance at a workers meeting organised by Azam Khan in Rampur. Yadav had spoken briefly, heaped praise on the SP president, thanked Khan for clearing the misunderstandings between him and Mulayam Singh Yadav and disclosed that he would soon be joining the party. Almost immediately Akhilesh had declared that the party would not take in “criminal elements”.

Subsequently party spokesperson Singh had said that if DP Yadav wished to join the party and make a fresh start, the issue should be de-linked from his past. “There are many like him in the party. If he wants to rejoin, there is no harm”, Singh had said.

He had further added that even though Akhilesh Singh Yadav had opposed the move, a final decision on the matter could only be taken by the party's high command.

After the dismissal, Singh retorted that the issue had been distorted by a section of the media.

In Lucknow, Chowdhry said, “The party president has the right to reallocate duties. Nothing more should be read into it.”

While the BJP has scored a self goal by inducting NRHM scam tainted former BSP minister Babu Singh Kushwaha into its folds, the junior Yadav’s stand on DP Yadav could be seen as a sign of change in UP’s criminal infected electoral history. It is also a clear indication on the strength of Akhilesh Yadav’s position within the party as it is on the rumblings of discord within the party's top brass.