Akhilesh talks to uncle Shivpal; SP's bickering likely to be sorted out

Lucknow, Oct 3: Bickering within the Samajwadi Party's first family is likely to be sorted out after reports of party president Akhilesh Yadav's telephonic talk with his bitter rival and uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav, reports here said. Mr Akhilesh had a 45-minute-long telephonic talk with Mr Shivpal on Monday and they could meet personally any time Tuesday, they said. This was for the first time that Mr Akhilesh had talked to his uncle after their open public spat at the state party office on October 24, 2016. However, sources close to these leaders claimed that Mr Akhilesh is ready to give the national general secretary post to Mr Shivpal but was not ready to accept any other leader, including some of his family members, in the party rank and file. "Akhilesh has given a clear message to his family members after he announced that his wife Dimple Yadav would not contest any election in future. The SP president wants to end the political charges of dynasty politics on him hence, he is not ready to accept the family members in the party," a senior party leader here said. Meanwhile, party's patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is in New Delhi, could attend the SP's Agra national convention on October 5. A senior party leader close to Mr Mulayam, confirmed that Netaji could attend the SP national convention at Agra. "Though netaji has not confirmed yet about his participation but he has given enough indication on the matter about his presence in the meeting." UNI