Akhilesh Yadav, Pema Khandu

(S.Ravi Seshu)

In 24 hours of quick political developments, Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh were axed by their respective parties.

The Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav expelled his son and UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav from the party for six years on Friday. He also sent his cousin Ramgopal Yadav from the party. The sensational decision of the strong man of Indian politics came a few months before the assembly elections created a flutter in Indian politics. He alleged that both the leaders “are spoiling the party.”

“I made Akhilesh Chief Minister… and now he does not even consult me,” Mulayam said but he didn’t name any other leader to replace his son. He called for a meeting to take future course of action. It may be recalled that the young Chief Minister has been engaged in a bitter tussle with his uncle Shivpal Yadav, who is the party’s UP chief.

The SP’s internal bickering is expected to benefit BJP and BSP in the forthcoming 403-seat Assembly elections, considered as semifinals before general elections in 2019.

In Arunachal Pradesh, incumbent Chief Minister and former Congress rebel Pema Khandu and six other lawmakers were suspended from the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) on Thursday. Khandu along with 42 other Congress lawmakers joined PPA only in mid-September.

The PPA president Kafia Bengia announced that Pema Khandu is no longer the leader of the legislature party and cannot exercise any of the powers bestowed to him as the leader of the legislature party. He also warned MLAs against attending any meetings called by Mr Khandu, failing which disciplinary action would be taken.