We are united, no rift in Samajwadi Party, assures Akhilesh

Lucknow [India], Sept. 17 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday denied any rift in the Samajwadi Party, which was witnessed recently when party leader Shivpal Yadav resigned after all the major portfolios of U.P. Cabinet were taken away from him. "We are united, there is no rift in the party," said Yadav in a press briefing here. Akhilesh said that he has wished luck to the new party state president made by party chief Mulayam Yadav. "I had tea with my 'chacha' and not party's state chief," said Akhilesh, after a 40-minute tea meeting with his uncle at the state capital. Yesterday, Mulayam met Akhilesh and Shivpal at his Lucknow residence and reportedly brokered a peace deal between the two. Earlier today, Akhilesh gave back the portfolios held by his uncle Shivpal Yadav, except the PWD department. Shivpal will also continue as the Samajwadi Party state unit chief. Akhilesh had earlier divested Shivpal of all important ministerial portfolios including PWD, irrigation, cooperative, flood control and revenue and handed him the social welfare department. Prior to it, Shivpal had replaced him as its new chief in Uttar Pradesh on the instructions of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. Disagreements between Akhilesh and his uncle have been reported on several occasions, including on the choice of official to be appointed as the state's chief secretary after Alok Ranjan's term ended and the postponement of Quami Ekta Dal's merger with the Samajwadi Party. (ANI)