Opposition In Tatters: Akhilesh Yadav And Shivpal Yadav Spar Over Presidential Polls

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday accused his uncle and President of Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) Shivpal Singh Yadav of working on the BJP's 'directions' to target Yashwant Sinha. Yadav, had written to Akhilesh Yadav, asking him how could he support Singh who had called SP veteran Mulayam Singh Yadav an 'ISI agent' in the past.

The Presidential election, which was held on Monday, came as the latest flashpoint in the running feud between the two SP leaders.

While Akhilesh is rooting for Yashwant Sinha, Shivpal, who has been elected an MLA on SP ticket, has publicly announced his support for NDA nominee Droupadi Murmu.

Speaking to reporters at the Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Bhavan, Akhilesh said, "There was an 'ishara' (direction) from Delhi (by the BJP) after which a deputy chief minister tweeted an old newspaper article highlighting Sinha's 'ISI agent' comment on Mulayam and then it was circulated (by Shivpal Yadav)".

Shivpal, who had turned up in the assembly for the poll, told reporters, "A 'pakka' (staunch) Samajwadi and a diehard follower of Netaji will never tolerate anyone terming him an ISI agent and will never vote for that person."

"He (a supporter) will never support the allegations made against Netaji. Yashwant Sinha had made allegations against Netaji when he was the defence minister and Pakistan was trying to attack India. At that point of time, Netaji had said if war broke out, it would not be fought on India's soil but on the enemy's soil."

The presidential polls has divided the opposition. There are speculations of cross-voting taking place in the opposition camps, in favour of Murmu. In fact, Yashwant Singh might be heading towards one of his most humiliating defeats in the recently concluded presidential polls.

Read: Why Yashwant Sinha Is A Perennial Loser And A Liability To Party And State

(with inputs from PTI)