Ram Gopal's story: Three letters and a sacking

LUCKNOW: SP's former general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav drew the battle lines early on Sunday morning with a letter, his second since last Saturday (October 15), stating that Samajwadi Party's future lay with Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav.

In the open letter, Ram Gopal said his aim was to ensure that a government was formed in the state under the leadership of his nephew Akhilesh. In the missive, seen as a direct attack on SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, especially since he had asked his cousin to make way for Akhilesh in his earlier letter, Ram Gopal also stated that "some people in the party want to see Akhilesh Yadav lose". Hours after Ram Gopal's letter, ad dressed to "pyare saathiyon (dear colleagues)" -hit the social media, he was sacked from the party for six years.

The day ended with a third letter from Ram Gopal, issued in the evening, wherein he described his expulsion as the result of a "conspiracy by demonic forces who have surrounded the SP chief ". Referring to Mulayam as his guru (mentor) in politics, he once again vowed his support to Akhilesh and described the present crisis in the Yadav clan as a "dharam yuddh".

Ram Gopal said Mulayam would only understand the reality after he was "freed from the clutches of the demonic forces".