Akhilesh Yadav divests Shivpal of portfolios; Amar Singh role seen in crisis

New Delhi/ Lucknow: The politics of brinkmanship continues to unfold in the Mulayam Singh Yadav clan, with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav having apparently dug his heels in to thwart the move to placate his uncle and state unit chief of the party Shivpal Singh Yadav.

While the SP chief is making attempts to put up a united family face in the state, the BJP made a surprising move on Wednesday to try find peace in the family feud by sending a friendly media moghul to broker compromise between the nephew and uncle.

The tug of war between the Yadavs fast-played on Tuesday night, with move and counter-move happening in quick succession. SP chief appointed Mr Shivpal Singh Yadav as the state unit chief of the party in place of his son and the Chief Minister at the behest of Mr Amar Singh, who was recently reinstated in the party, sources said. However, the bete noir of Mr Amar Singh in the party and cousin of the SP chief Mr Ram Gopal Yadav persuaded Mr Akhilesh Yadav to strike back in quick time by divesting portfolios assigned to Mr Shivpal Singh Yadav in his Cabinet, sources added.