Lucknow, Oct. 25 (PTI): Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav insisted on Tuesday that the “party and family are united” but was evasive on whether brother Shivpal would be reinstated in son Akhilesh Yadav’s Cabinet. 

Amid a deep divide in the party and the family, Mulayam, flanked by Shivpal-- who is also chief of the party’s state unit-- and three other sacked ministers, addressed a press conference. Akhilesh was not present.

Mulayam said that SP had come to power in 2012 only because of him, but still he had made Akhilesh the Chief Minister. He ruled out becoming the Chief Minister, with the Assembly elections barely a few months away.

”My entire life is devoted for the welfare of the people and he will continue to work for them,” said Mulayam, 76, who has been chief minister of the state three times.

Mulayam strongly defended Amar Singh, a Samajwadi member of Parliament who is being blamed by the Akhilesh faction for the problems in the family.

“Why drag him into all this?” Mulayam said.

”My family and party are united. All workers are united. There are some conspirators, who do not have any mass base,” Mulayam told a hurriedly-convened press conferences.

”There are no differences or ill-feelings among our leaders, Mulayam said.

Asked whether Shivpal and other sacked ministers would then be reinstated in the Akhilesh cabinet, he said, “I leave this to CM.... You ask him why he made them ministers and why he sacked them.”

Appearing cautious while replying to question, Mulayam said, “I will not make any single controversial statement. Whatever you may ask.”

To a question whether he would take over the reins of the state from his Akhilesh, the SP chief said, “Why will I consider it now when Assembly elections are just a few months away?”

He said Model Code of Conduct will come into force in November or December and government will not be able to work freely.

When asked about son Akhilesh Yadav's reservations against Amar Singh, Mulayam said, “Why do you drag him into all this?”

Sacked ministers Om Prakash Singh, Narad Rai and Sayeda Shadab Fatima were also present, besides tainted minister Gayatri Prajapati.

About the party’s Chief ministerial candidate for 2017, Malayam said: “Ours is a democratic party. First let us get majority and then elected representatives will select their CM. Presently, Akhilesh is CM, does anyone have any problem?”

Though no official meeting is scheduled today, informal talks were on since Monday night for a rapprochement between Shivpal and Akhilesh as their growing chasm has cast a shadow over the electoral prospects of the party ahead of the 2017 Assembly polls.

At Monday's meeting, Mulayam sided with his younger brother Shivpal and friend Amar Singh, and reprimanded son Akhilesh but ruled out his removal as Chief Minister.

Akhilesh first had offered to step down but later accused Amar Singh and those close to him of hatching a “conspiracy” against him and his father.

There were sharp exchanges between Akhilesh and Mulayam, who virtually dismissed him as an insignificant entity in UP politics who could not win an election without his support.

”What is your capability? Can you win elections?” he had said, snapping at Akhilesh.