Updated

Lucknow, Jan 1 (PTI): In the midst of the bitter feud in the Yadav clan, SP chief Mulayam Singh today expelled party's national vice president Kiranmoy Nanda and senior leader Naresh Agrawal for attending the national convention called by the Akhilesh camp. They were sacked hours after Mulayam expelled Ramgopal Yadav for six years terming the decisions taken at the convention as "unconstitutional and illegal".

In a letter to Nanda, Mulayam said he took part in the "emergency national representatives' convention" which is not only "unconstitutional but also amounts to anti-party activities". Agarwal has also been expelled from the party for taking part in the convention, a senior SP leader said.

Citing Section 14(2) of the party constitution, he said the convention was not called by the national president (Mulayam Singh) and despite being a senior member, Nanda took part in it. "For taking part in the unconstitutional national representatives' convention and continuous involvement in anti-party activities, he is being removed from the post of national vice president. He also ceases to be a primary member of the party," the letter stated.

Nanda had chaired the national convention called by Ram Gopal Yadav that anointed Akhilesh the SP president, removed his uncle Shivpal Yadav as the state unit chief and expelled Amar Singh.

Earlier

Mulayam Singh fights back, terms decisions taken at convention illegal

Lucknow, Jan 1 (PTI): Hitting back, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav today termed as "illegal" all decisions taken at the convention called by the Akhilesh camp and again expelled Ram Gopal Yadav for six years.

In a letter issued here, Yadav said the national convention had not been convened with the permission of the national president and all decision taken there are illegal. "The parliamentary board of the party declares all the proposals, decisions and the convention itself illegal and expels Ram Gopal, who convened the convention, for six years," the letter stated.

Mulayam Singh also convened the national convention of the party on January 5 at the same venue so that there is no doubt in the minds of the people.The letter, which makes no mention of Akhilesh Yadav and is signed by Mulayam Singh, states that the candidates' list issued earlier for the 2017 Assembly polls has been endorsed and a decision on the remaining seats will be taken soon.

"Mulayam Singh has all along been struggling against communal forces and strengthening the Samajwadi Party but some people, in order to hide their wrongdoings, to save themselves from CBI and to help BJP, have been continuously insulting him," the letter said, noting that those very people conspired to convene today's convention.

This morning a convention called by Ram Gopal removed Mulayam Singh from the post of national president replacing him with Akhilesh Yadav and expelled Amar Singh from the party.