Lucknow:
In a shocking series of events on Friday, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav expelled Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav from the party for six years. Mulayam Singh Yadav also expelled party general secretary and brother Ram Gopal Yadav for indulging in anti-party activities.
"New chief minister will be decided by us," said Mulayam while addressing the press conference in Lucknow.
"I made Akhilesh chief minister. Now he does not even consult me," said Mulayam.
Flanked by brother Shivpal Yadav, who has been at loggerheads with the Chief Minister, Mulayam said he had taken the action against Akhilesh and Ram Gopal to save the party which he had built through hard efforts.
Akhilesh Yadav also announced that he will address a press conference at 9 pm on Friday where he is expected to present his reply on the decisions taken by the party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Ram Gopal Yadav, who was expelled by Mulayam second time on Friday, said that the party chief doesn't know the constitution of the party.
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"It's unconstitutional to expel someone without listening to them just hours after issuing show-cause notice," said Ram Gopal Yadav on his expulsion.
He said: "This is unconstitutional as both of us were expelled 2 hours after they gave the notice and without listening to our answers."
After the announcements of expulsion of CM Akhilesh Yadav from the party, frenzied supporters of the chief minister indulge in angry protests in front of Mulayam's residence.
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Constitutional crisis?
As Mulayam has announced that he will decide the name of new chief minister, it will be interesting to see how Akhilesh Yadav reacts. What will happen if he presents a list of majority of MLAs in his support to the governor? Will UP Governor ask Akhilesh to step down? Will the Governor ask Akhilesh to prove his majority on the floor of the House? Will UP become a fit case to impose President's Rule? These are the few questions which will be answered only by the Governor now.
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What happened in last two days
# Ram Gopal Yadav, a staunch supporter of the Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, called an emergency meeting on Friday of the party in defiance of the party chief.
# Mulayam issued a showcause notice to son after a defiant Akhilesh Yadav released a new list of poll candidates.
# Mulayam Singh Yadav has called a meeting of all the candidates allotted tickets amid hectic efforts to stave off a split in the party.
# On Thursday night, Akhilesh released his own list of 235 candidates for the assembly elections.
# Akhilesh Yadav's list of 235 includes 187 candidates who also feature in his father's list, and tomorrow's meeting will be watched keenly for how many of these party leaders attend, signalling that they are with Mulayam Singh.
# Mulayam also issued a showcause notice to Akhilesh for 'indiscipline' over releasing a parallel list of candidates.
# Shivpal Yadav, uncle of Akhilesh, had a meeting with brother and party chief Mulayam Singh on Thursday night.
# Mulayam had convened a meeting on Saturday of the 393 candidates who have been allotted tickets by him.
# There were fears in the party cadre that the battle for control will start at grassroots level in SP.
# There were reports that Akhilesh might break away from the ruling party and float his own party.
Akhilesh Yadav had in last two months engaged in a battle of power with his uncle Shivpal Yadav. Mulayam Singh has consistently supported his younger brother.
Elections to 403 assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh are expected to be announced by the Election Commission in the first month of January next year.
