Mohan Singh becomes collateral victim on removal as SP's national spokesman

NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has on Thursday said that he calls the shots in the party when he got his father Mulayam Singh Yadav to remove Mohan Singh as the party spokesman for backing the call for inducting mafia don DP Yadav.

"On direction of Mulayam Singh Yadav, Mohan Singh has been removed from the post of party's national spokesman. Ram Gopal Yadav has been given his charge," Samajwadi Party spokesman Rajendra Chowdhury said in Lucknow.

Mohan Singh seems to have become a collateral victim as the decision appears to be aimed more at Mulayam's younger brother, Shivpal Singh Yadav, who has been enthusiastically championing the proposal to accommodate DP Yadav. It was only two days ago that Akhilesh had publicly rejected Mulayam's younger brother's statement on the matter.

This even saw DP Yadav supporters within SP like Azam Khan changing tack to be in line with Akhilesh's stand. On his part, Mohan Singh attempted to play down his removal as the SP spokesman. He said that he was removed from the national spokesman position due to his ill-health.

"I haven't said anything against Akhilesh Yadav. I am extremely fond of him. There has been a wrong campaign against me. They (media) wrongly interpreted my statement. I don't think party has removed me on that count. My health isn't good and that's the reason they may have removed me. I am thankful to the party leadership for this decision," said Singh.

The decision of Akhilesh to spurn DP Yadav's induction shows that the young leader has sensed the popular mood in the state against criminalisation. It will insulate the SP from the familiar charge that its return to power will unleash a fresh round of goonda raj. In 2007, Mayawati rode to power in the state by equating Mulayam Singh Yadav government with mafia rule.