Will be with Akhilesh in 'dharma yudh': Ramgopal

LUCKNOW: Hours after being expelled from the Samajwadi Party for six years, Ramgopal Yadav today said he will always remain with nephew Akhilesh Yadav in the "holy war" even though his elder brother and party supremo Mulayam Singh was his "guru" in politics and will remain so.

In a statement faxed from Mumbai, he said he had no grievances over his expulsion from the party but the "cheap allegations levelled against me have defintely hurt me deeply."

Ramgopal was earlier in the day expelled from the party for six years by Mulayam, accusing him of hobnobbing with BJP.

"Whether I am in Samajwadi Party or not, in this 'dharma-yudh (holy war)', I shall always be with Akhilesh Yadav," he said, adding that he would continue to side with him till he is re-elected as the chief minister.

For the time being it appears that Mulayam has been surrounded "evil spirits", but whenever he would be "free from those powers, he would realise the truth", the former national general secretary said.

"I will continue to respect (Mulayam) throughout my life," he said in the statement.