As an uncle, Shivpal Yadav had often ferried his young nephew to school on a scooter. But that was in the late 70's. The young nephew is now in the driver's seat and wishes to lay down his own rules of politics. The uncle's political tactics, which shaped the Samajwadi Party over the years, have been put to rest.
With patriarch Mulayam Singh being slowed by age, an undeclared struggle for power has started within the first family of the Samajwadi Party. Only, that this could not have come at a worse time for the party, when it is readying for the Uttar Pradesh polls to be held in a few months from now.
So what is at the heart of growing differences between Akhilesh and Shivpal Yadav? Is it lust for power, or contempt for each other's style of politics?
Political observers say it's both. While Shivpal was often considered an organisational man, Akhilesh was the young, technology-savy, popular face of the Samajwadi Party. While Shivpal rubbed shoulders with Mulayam Singh over the decades and suffered hardship to create and stregthen the party, Akhilesh was the one who reaped the fruits of power.
Yes, he was a parliamentarian for long before being made the chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2012, but his political involvement was minimal. The decision to bring in Akhilesh as the CM face may have been driven by fatherly affection on Mulayam's part; or it may have been political prudence in projecting a young and more acceptable face.
But the decision didn't come without damage. While the young chief minister struggled to assert his development agenda, old turks Shivpal Yadav, Azam Khan, Ram Gopal and often Mulayam Singh himself didn't let go of the reigns. This situation gave rise to the phrase 'four and half chief ministers' - the four old guards and the young Akhilesh.
But slowly as Akhilesh moved to create a mark, it started a conflict of opinion and polititics and egos.
Moves were made and compromises brokered. When a DySP was shot dead in Kunda, Akhilesh was quick to sack Raghuraj Pratap or Raja Bhaiya from his cabinet. Later he was forced to swallow the bitter and reinduct Raja Bhaiya. Sources say the decision was forced upon the CM.
It was not the only induction in the cabinet without the consent of the CM. It was also not the only instance where his wish was ignored. Sources say Akhilesh had to compromise even in the appointment of top bureaucrats, including some in his own secretariat.
While at some times Azam Khan sulked, at other times it was Shivpal Yadav. Divisions of young versus old were evident when prominent faces of Team Akhilesh were sacked from the party and a sober Akhilesh had to express annoyance by skipping the Saifai Mahotsava. He was then pacified by bringing these faces to the Legislative Council.
But while all this was till recently confined to inner politics, it's now beginning to come out in the open. The mud that is raked is threatening to swamp Samajwadi Party's poll prospects and put Akhilesh's captaincy at risk. After all, he is the CM face of the party.
The defining moment of this great rift was the merger of Qaumi Ekta Dal with the SP and the subsequent anullment. Shivpal, the architect of this alliance, was shocked and humiliated when Akhilesh vetoed it.
For him the alliance, however controversial was one of political prudence. For Akhilesh, anything to do with don Mukhtar Ansari's party was throwing his development agenda to the winds. A top leader close to him says Shivpal had decided to quit then, but held on in the larger interests of the party. But the thaw was short-lived. Sources within the party say Shivpal started believing that he was being made the scapegoat for all wrongs. The chief minister was also not letting him function smoothly in the very departments he headed as a minister.
Therefore, Shivpal has now come out in the open questioning his own government over law and order.
He may not have chosen to hold Akhilesh directly responsible. But party president Mulayam Singh was quick to smell the danger the party would be in if Shivpal quit. He cajoled Shivpal and pulled up Akhilesh. Will it help?
It's also open to interpretation whether it was a political move to derail Akhilesh as he prepares for the crucial polls early next year. Will the nephew stumble, or has he mastered the art of driving? The polls will tell.
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