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Amar Singh appointed SP General Secretary

thestatesman.com/Agencies | September 20, 2016 12:29 pm

In a surprise move, Amar Singh has been appointed as the Samajwadi Party General Secretary by party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Tuesday.

Amar Singh is considered close to Mulayam Singh Yadav’s brother Shivpal Yadav.

Apparently attacking Amar Singh for fuelling feud in the family, CM Akhilesh Yadav had said, "Everyone understands who is this outsider, even you know that. I have told Netaji that if an outsider comes between us, he will be thrown out." 

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"Netaji and I have decided that we will not let outsiders drive a wedge between us," he added.

However, Shivpal defended Amar Singh who is SP’s RS member and advised Akhilesh  not to develop an ego and to "gain more experience".

The feud in the Samajawadi Party is not over yet as state unit head Shivpal Yadav on Monday asserted himself against Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and expelled seven party functionaries, including three MLCs, considered close to him.

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Rift in SP to help BJP in UP polls: Athawale

  • Rift in SP to help BJP in UP polls: Athawale
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18:54 HRS IST

Raipur, Dec 31 (PTI) Republican Party of India (RPI) president and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale today claimed that the "ongoing rift within Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh will certainly benefit BJP" in the upcoming assembly polls in that state.

He also claimed that his party can play a vital role in ensuring Dalit votes to BJP to capture power in the Uttar Pradesh.

"BJP is doing well in Chhattisgarh and therefore they are being voted to power again and again here. Congress is fighting among themselves (in Chhattisgarh). There in UP, clash is underway within Samajwadi Party," the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Athawale told reporters here.

"Dispute within Congress benefits BJP and now feud within SP would be beneficial for the BJP in UP (polls)," he added.

" We are trying that RPI and BJP would contest UP election in alliance we can get Dalit votes to BJP to ensure victory of their candidates and could be a good support (for the saffron party). I spoke to union minister Rajnath Singh yesterday and even he said BJP could get benefit of RPI," he said.

Athawale also said, "only Mayawati does not have rights over Dalit votes but RPI too has. RPI is the actual party of Babasaheb Ambedkar." 

"If we will contest UP polls in alliance with BJP, then we will be fielding candidates in 15-20 seats but in case we enter in the fray alone, we will fight in 150-200 seats," he added.

The Minister, however, said that even if his party's nominees will secure victory while fighting without any alliance in the UP polls, they will later extend support to the BJP.

Athawale further asserted that inter-caste marriages should be encouraged to bridge the gap between different sections of the society.

"In Chhattisgarh, only 170 inter-caste marriages had taken place in in 2015-16. Though the figures are encouraging in comparison to previous years, 2013-14 where 90 marriages and 2014-15 where 80 marriages, had taken place, these mostly are love marriages," said the Union Minister.

"The state government should encourage arranged inter-caste marriages", he said.

According to the Minister, in this regard he will soon write to Chief Minister Raman Singh.