Mulayam Singh Yadav, Samajwadi Party chief on 30 December 2016 dismissed his son who is also Uttar Pradesh CM, Akhilesh Yadav and his cousin Ram Gopal Yadav from the party for 6 years. Delimited by brother Shivpal Yadav, who has been at loggerheads with the Chief Minister, party chief said that "I took action against Akhilesh and Ramgopal to save party which I had built through hard efforts". He also said that party will decide on the new chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

The SP chief accused Ram Gopal of hurting the interests of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and misleading him and also for indulging in anti-party activities and said that he was weakening the party ahead of the assembly elections. Ram Gopal Yadav had, earlier in the day, called a national convention of Samajwadi Party on 1 January 2017 following a rift over the list of SP candidates finalised by Mulayam Singh for assembly polls.

Mulayam Singh Yadav said, "No one has the right to call national executive meeting other than the party chief". He also said, "Akhilesh does not understand that Ram Gopal is trying to destroy his future". Mulayam explained that the decision was taken after Ramgopal, the general secretary, called an emergency meeting of party on 1 January 2017 and Akhilesh supported it.

Ramgopal called the meeting after a showcause notice was issued to him and Akhilesh by Mulayam for releasing a list of candidates, parallel to the one issued officially by Mulayam. Mulayam said, "How can Akhilesh release the list when the party has declared its candidates? I have built this party through hard work. Both Akhilesh and Ramgopal want to finish the party. I will not let it happen".

Mulayam Singh Yadav, Samajwadi Party chief on 30 December 2016 dismissed his son who is also Uttar Pradesh CM, Akhilesh Yadav and his cousin Ram Gopal Yadav from the party for 6 years. Delimited by brother Shivpal Yadav, who has been at loggerheads with the Chief Minister, party chief said that "I took action against Akhilesh and Ramgopal to save party which I had built through hard efforts". He also said that party will decide on the new chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

The SP chief accused Ram Gopal of hurting the interests of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and misleading him and also for indulging in anti-party activities and said that he was weakening the party ahead of the assembly elections. Ram Gopal Yadav had, earlier in the day, called a national convention of Samajwadi Party on 1 January 2017 following a rift over the list of SP candidates finalised by Mulayam Singh for assembly polls.

Mulayam Singh Yadav said, "No one has the right to call national executive meeting other than the party chief". He also said, "Akhilesh does not understand that Ram Gopal is trying to destroy his future". Mulayam explained that the decision was taken after Ramgopal, the general secretary, called an emergency meeting of party on 1 January 2017 and Akhilesh supported it.

Ramgopal called the meeting after a showcause notice was issued to him and Akhilesh by Mulayam for releasing a list of candidates, parallel to the one issued officially by Mulayam. Mulayam said, "How can Akhilesh release the list when the party has declared its candidates? I have built this party through hard work. Both Akhilesh and Ramgopal want to finish the party. I will not let it happen".