Mulayam and Akhilesh Yadav unite for yatra, rath breaks down

Mulayam, Shivpal Yadav and Akhilesh. Pic/PTI

Lucknow: The looming danger of electoral reverses yesterday brought the feuding first family of UP's ruling Samajwadi Party together as party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav flagged off son Akhilesh Yadav's ‘rath yatra' and younger brother Shivpal, with whom the Chief Minister was locked in a bitter power struggle, extended him his "best wishes".

However, the modern, hi-fi, modified Mercedes bus being used as the ‘Rath' (chariot) by Akhilesh for his yatra developed a snag soon after he began his road trip on Thursday, forcing him to settle for a bulletproof SUV instead.

Mulayam plays peacemaker Mulayam played the role of a peacemaker and brought the two together on one platform at an event, which many felt would be a solo Akhilesh show. However, ending days of suspense, Mulayam turned up at La Martinere grounds, the venue for the flagging off of Akhilesh Yadav's ‘Vikas Se Vijay Ki Ore' yatra, with Shivpal, who heads the SP's state unit, in tow.

Mulayam took his seat on stage and was soon flanked by Akhilesh on one side and Shivpal on the other, as he sought to drive home the message that the party was united ahead of the polls. Soon after this, Chief Minister Yadav, after some failed attempts by his managers to restart the bus, got down and drove ahead in his SUV, accompanied by wife Dimple Yadav.