Yadav family feud ends, Shivpal's portfolios restored

Lucknow, Sep 17: The feud in Uttar Pradesh's first family has ended, with Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav tonight restoring all but one portfolios of Shivpal Yadav and promising to support him as SP's state unit president, a post from which he was himself removed three days back triggering the power tussle with his uncle.

As per the compromise worked out by SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh's demand of having a say in ticket distribution has been met as he will be made the head of the state Parliamentary Board, which makes final decisions on deciding the candidates, party sources said.

Before the announcement was made, Mulayam held a meeting with brother Shivpal and Akhilesh this evening to end the deadlock and discuss ways to strengthen the party. Akhilesh restored Shivpal's key portfolios including Irrigation and Cooperative which were taken away three days back.

Shivpal was also given additional portfolios of Minor Irrigation and Medical Education. However, Public Works Department, which was among the portfolios taken away from Shivpal, was kept by the CM with himself.

The Chief Minister has also sought time from the Raj Bhawan for oath of sacked minister Gayatri Prajapati, a Raj Bhawan release issued this evening said.

Akhilesh had stripped Shivpal of the portfolios and sacked Prajapati after he was replaced by his uncle as the party's state unit head, triggering a full blown war in the family. Subsequently, Shivpal had tendered his resignation from the Cabinet as well as party post.

"I have myself congratulated SP's UP unit president Shivpal Yadav after meeting him at his residence.... I will extend all my support to Shivpalji," Akhilesh told reporters here earlier in the day, indicating rapproachment with his uncle with whom he was engaged in a turf war.

His remarks came a day after he said he felt "very sad" when he was replaced with Shivpal as the state party president by his father Mulayam Singh Yadav.

PTI