Ram Gopal writes letter favouring nephew Akhilesh

Lucknow, October 23

Samajwadi Party general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav on Sunday wrote a one-page letter to party workers saying the future of the SP lay in Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav hours before a new crisis hit the party.

The letter addressed to "pyare saathiyon" (dear colleagues) said Ram Gopal's aim was to ensure that a state government was formed in the leadership of his nephew Akhilesh.

The Rajya Sabha member who was hitherto considered the think- tank of the party has now thrown his lot behind Akhilesh and has crossed daggers with his cousins Mulayam Singh Yadav and Shivpal Singh Yadav.

In his letter Ram Gopal said that people with Akhilesh were those who have spilled blood for the party and made great sacrifices whereas those who "minted crores and misused power" were on the other side.

The national party general secretary said while their thinking was positive, others were of negative mindset.

The letter was released around 6.30 am. He is understood to have written from Mumbai.

While no names have been taken, the political overtones in the letter suggest that he was alluring to the other side led by his elder brother Mulayam Singh Yadav.

The letter came hours before Akhilesh Yadav dismissed his uncle from the party. — IANS