Ready to give up CM post for right person, I want a say in ticket distribution: Akhilesh Yadav

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav broke his silence on the rift between him and his uncle Shivpal Yadav and said that he "felt bad" after being removed as Samajwadi Party state president and demanded that he be given a say in ticket distribution for the 2017 Assembly election.

Akhilesh said he has rejected the resignation of Shivpal and he will comply with his father Mulayam Singh's Yadav direction to reinduct sacked Mining Minister Gayatri Prajapati, adding that "Netaji will find a solution (to the current crisis) and everyone will accept it".

The feud in the Yadav family had spilled into the open after the Chief Minister stripped Shivpal of key ministerial portfolios on 13 September, hours after he was replaced with Shivpal as the party's state unit chief by Mulayam.

In a dramatic development, Shivpal resigned from all party and Cabinet posts on 15 September night.

"I felt bad and you saw its effect. I'm coming here after a discussion with Netaji (Mulayam). Samajwadi Party is a family and there are no differences in the party," Akhilesh said.

The Chief Minister rubbished reports that he is behind the feud in the family saying, "It's a fight for the chair. If a good person asks for the CM's post, I am ready to give it up.

"It's election time. We should all come together and work. There is no fight between Ramgopal Yadav, Akhilesh and Shivpal." Making it clear that he wanted a say in the distribution of tickets in the upcoming state elections, Akhilesh said, "I say I will give back everything but then I will say I should have the authority to distribute tickets. It will be my 'pariskha' (test) in elections."

Apparently attacking SP Rajya Sabha member Amar Singh for fueling feud in the family, he 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."

"Netaji and I have decided that we will not let outsiders drive a wedge between us," he said. "If there is some issue, Netaji will find a solution and everyone will accept it. Netaji is my father and also his (Shivpal's) brother, he will find a solution to this issue," he said.

"I have said that I take some decisions on instructions of Netaji, I take some decisions on my own," he said. On Mulayam's announcement of taking back controversial minister Prajapati, Akhilesh said, "It is my responsibility as a son to accept Netaji's decision. I accept Netaji's decision to bring Gayatri Prajapati back into Cabinet."

On removal of Chief Secretary Deepak Singhal, the Chief Minister said, "Uncle knows why he was removed, he should tell this to people."

-PTI