After Uttar Pradesh Minister Balram Yadav was dropped from the Cabinet for reportedly spearheading the merger of don Mukhtar Ansari's Qaumi Ekta Dal with the Samajwadi Party, sources close to CM Akhilesh Yadav say the ouster is not related to the merger.
As per sources, Akhilesh was not happy with his functioning and the decision to drop him was already taken a few weeks ago. Balram Yadav is a close aide of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Sources say Akhilesh is upset with his uncle, Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav's initiative to join hands with the Ansari brothers and has cancelled all programs for the day.
However, Shivpal said he had announced the decision with the consent of party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. "It is the right of the Chief Minister (Akhilesh Yadav) to appoint ministers. I announced merger of QED with the consent of Netaji (Mulayam)," he said.
He also denied any rumours of fissures within the party and said everything was "alright in the party".
Shivpal, who met the CM earlier in the day, said, "There was no discussion on expulsion of minister Balram Yadav. We discussed other issues related to organisational matters and party's strategy on Assembly polls due next year."
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