Aides sacked, Akhilesh skips Saifai event

Akhilesh was to inaugurate the Indian Grameen Cricket League as part of the Mahotsav on Sunday, but he did not turn up.

akhilesh yadav, UP Chief Minister, saifai mahotsav, samajwadi party, SP Chief mulayam singh yadav, yadav family

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav did not attend Saifai Mahotsav for the second consecutive day on Sunday, giving rise to speculation that he might be “upset” with the expulsion of two of his close aides from Samajwadi Party.

On Friday, two of Akhilesh loyalists — Sunil Yadav alias Sajan and Anand Bhadauria — were expelled from the party. While Sajan was the national president of SP Chhatrasabha, Bhadauria was former national president of Lohia Vahini. Another SP leader, Subodh Yadav — son of the party’s MLA from Etah, Rameshwar Yadav — was also expelled. All three were expelled on the charges of “anti-party” activities.

Saifai Mahotsav is considered important to the Yadav family, as it is held annually in the memory of Akhilesh’s cousin Ranveer Singh. Akhilesh was to inaugurate the Indian Grameen Cricket League as part of the Mahotsav on Sunday, but he did not turn up.

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On Saturday too, Akhilesh did not attend the inaugural ceremony. The whole family, including SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Shivpal Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav were present.

Sources in SP said Akhilesh is unhappy over Mulayam’s decision to expel Sajan and Bhadauria. It is also seen as a move to clip the wings of Akhilesh loyalists in the party.

A senior party leader claimed it also signals new equations in the Yadav family. Already, Shivpal has been given the charge of zila panchayat chairman elections.

This was the first time that the expulsion letter was issued bearing Shivpal’s signature. This, despite Akhilesh being the state president of Samajwadi Party.

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