By Vidya Shankar Rai
Lucknow, Dec 10 (IANS) Samajwadi Party's Uttar Pradesh unit President Shivpal Yadav, who has been embroiled in a bitter power tussle with his nephew and state Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for the last few months, said that some people were misleading the party's top brass for their selfish motives.
"I do not need anybody's approval. Once you form a government, people of different kinds join you. I am not concerned about what they say.
"However some people mislead the top leadership for their selfish motives. We need to keep an eye on such people," Yadav said.
In an interview to IANS, Yadav denied there was any rift in the party.
He said: There's no infighting in the party. Everybody's responsibilities are fixed.
"I do not see any factionalism in the party. The Samajwadi family has always been united and it will remain so. There is no factionalism. Everyone knows his or her responsibility," Yadav said, who started his political career in 1988.
Asked about the merger of Quami Ekta Dal (QED) with the party which was vehemently opposed by Akhilesh Yadav, Shivpal Yadav asked: "What is wrong if people join you?"
Asked why Akhilesh did not attend the Ghazipur rally where Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav justified the merger, Shivpal said: "Responsibilities for everyone are fixed. Uttar Pradesh is a big state. Netaji (Mulayam) will attend some rallies, I will be at some while Akhilesh will be there at some. Media always looks for spicy news."
Shivpal also refuted claims that Muslims were disappointed with the party following the infighting.
"Netaji has always worked for the betterment of Muslims and will continue to do so in future. Muslims in the state know that only Samajwadi Party can work for their benefit."
Reacting to the delay in his return to the Cabinet, he said: "How many days are left for the elections? Being in the government affects party's organisational work, and a strong organisation informs people about the good work of the government. Right now my priority is to form government again."
He added that Bahujan Samaj Party Supremo Mayawati did not have any issue to raise against the Samajwadi Party government which is going to increase the party's prospects of getting re-elected.
Shivpal said that his party was not against demonetisation but the problems people were facing due to it.
"We are not against it. However, people are suffering due to lack of proper planning. Senior citizens are dying in queues," he said, adding that the move would not affect the party in the assembly election since it did not have black money.
He clarified that Akhilesh Yadav could not attend a rally against demonetisation in Delhi due to his busy schedule.
(Vidya Shankar Rai can be contacted at vidyashankar.r@ians.in)
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