As Akhilesh Yadav showcased support from party workers and took control of the Samajwadi Party from his father Mulayam Singh Yadav on Sunday, those close to the patriarch chose to ignore him and side with the son.
Those present on the dais at the special national convention, where Akhilesh was chosen national president, were party co-founder Reoti Raman Singh, vice-president Kiranmay Nanda, who presided over the convention, party general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Agrawal, several ministers and MLAs who have had long association with Mulayam, as well as most of the members of the extended Yadav family.
With the scales tilted in favour of Akhilesh, only a few leaders visited Mulayam on Sunday. These included minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati, who is considered close to Mulayam’s younger son Prateek, MLC Ashu Malik and Rajya Sabha MP Beni Prasad Verma, besides Shivpal Yadav and his associates.
