Akhilesh puts up a brave face, says ‘Samajwadi Pariwar’ united

Lucknow, Sep 20 (PTI) Even as the nascent truce inSamajwadi Party appeared to be in shreds with expulsion of hisassociates, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav todayput up a brave face saying ‘Samajwadi Pariwar’ is united toface all challenges. "Samajwadi Pariwar is as united as it was before and, indays to come, the challenges before the state and thegovernment, as communal forces (which) want to make an entrysomehow, will be faced unitedly," the Chief Minister said, aday after his uncle Shivpal, with whom he was locked in a turfwar, expelled seven party functionaries, including three MLCs,considered close to him. Akhilesh, who was flanked by Shivpal, was speaking toreporters after a meeting of the state cabinet chaired by him. This was the first cabinet meeting after a week-longcrisis in the Yadav family which saw the feud between factionsled by Shivpal and his nephew Akhilesh coming out into theopen. "The Samajwadi Pariwar will together work to ensure thatSamajwadi government returns to power and takes the state inthe direction of development and prosperity," said the chiefminister. Referring to the feud in the family, the Chief Ministersaid he wanted to tell all leaders, office bearers and othersthat "there are no problems in the party". The chief minister, who is known to take questions fromthe media, however, made an early exit today. The war in Uttar Pradesh’s first family appeared to be farfrom over, with Shivpal, who has been made SP’s state unitchief by party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav in place ofAkhilesh, yesterday asserting himself by expelling the partyfunctionaries considered close to Akhilesh. Protesting against the action, a number of youth officebearers of the party’s front wings resigned, claiming that"Akhilesh" is their "undisputed" leader. While two youths of SP Chatra Sabha (students wing)climbed atop a TV transmission tower here to protest the masssacking, some "Akhileshwadi" SP youth leaders wroteresignation letters in blood. MORE PTI SAB SMIRT