KOLKATA -- Senior SP leader Amar Singh on Monday denied allegations that he was trying to destroy the party and said Akhilesh Yadav was a fantastic Chief Minister but he needed time to become a mass leader.
"As Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is absolutely fantastic. As a first time administrator his focus on development, agenda for development, is mind-boggling," Singh said at a programme in Kolkata.
"I am not saying he is not a mass leader, but it takes time to become a mass leader. He is still very young. Blending of organisational skill and experience of Mulayam Singh and youth face of Akhilesh is very necessary," Singh said at the programme where media were not allowed.
Singh, who was accused by Akhilesh camp of trying to destroy the party, thanked SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, and his brother Shivpal Yadav, the state party chief, for standing by him and described Mulayam as the 'core' and 'father' of the Samajwadi Party.
On the crisis in the SP, he said crisis is not a new thing in a vibrant democracy. "What is important is resolution of that crisis," he said and cited the situation of Kerala unit of the CPI(M).
Reacting to allegations levelled against him that he was trying to destroy the SP, Singh said, "These allegations have become irrelevant after the latest statement of our party president. When the ultimate authority has given a statement, these allegations have become irrelevant."
The SP chief sided with his younger brother Shivpal and friend Amar Singh, and reprimanded son Akhilesh at an open meeting in Lucknow on Monday.
Mulayam made clear of his support for Singh when he described him as his "brother" and Shivpal Yadav as a "mass leader".
Earlier on Monday, while talking to PTI, Singh had given his best wishes to Akhilesh and said he wanted to maintain silence over allegations against him as it is the best strategic answer to all questions.
"I give my best wishes to Akhilesh Yadav. I have wished him on his birthday. He is the son of my supreme leader, my best wishes are with him," he said.
Also on HuffPost India.
