Ram Gopal Yadav's 'ghar vapasi' in Samajwadi Party, to continue as party's general secretary and spokesperson

New Delhi: Senior Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav was reinstated in the party by his elder brother and party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Wednesday, several weeks after he was expelled in the midst of a bitter feud between Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal.​

Ram Gopal Yadav will continue to perform his duties as Samajwadi Party general secretary and its spokesperson and will also be a part of the party's Central Parliamentary board, said a press release issued by SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Ram Gopal Yadav reinstated in Samajwadi party, will continue to be SP General Secy & spokesperson. pic.twitter.com/kEfszzWtyq — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 17, 2016

Speaking to reporters, an elated Ram Gopal Yadav today said that he was very happy with the decision taken by Mulayam Singh Yadav who is mostly referred to as 'Netaji' by his supporters.

I was always with the party. My re-into the party has been possible due to Netaji. He was never against me, said Ram Gopal Yadav.

Yeh toh hona hi tha; party mein wapsi hai Netaji ki kripa hai; Netaji kabhi mere khilaaf nhi the: Ram Gopal Yadav on being reinstated in SP pic.twitter.com/VhaxbYJNPl — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 17, 2016

Speaking on his expulsion, he said, ''I was always a part of the party and the Yadav family. I was just technically out of the party for some time, he added.

Ram Gopal Yadav, however, said that he has never said or done anything against the party line.

Ram Gopal Yadav was expelled by SP's Uttar Pradesh chief Shivpal Yadav in September from the party, along with Arvind Pratap Yadav and Akhilesh Kumar Yadav (who is also Ram Gopal’s nephew).

Both are apparently close to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

The action against Ram Gopal Yadav was taken since he had sided with his nephew Akhilesh when the young UP Chief Minister was locked in a bitter power struggle with his uncle Shivpal.

Ram Gopal Yadav had also openly criticised the removal of Akhilesh Yadav as the state party chief when he was replaced by his uncle Shivpal Yadav.

The sudden turn of events took place in Uttar Pradesh's ruling party after Akhilesh Yadav snatched Shivpal Yadav’s cabinet portfolios days after he replaced the Chief Minister as the party’s state chief.

Shivpal Yadav then resigned from the party and state government, but was returned his portfolios after party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav intervened. Mulayam Singh had refused to accept his brother Shivpal’s resignation.

Arvind Pratap was removed as MLC for making “derogatory comments” about Mulayam Singh, and for indiscipline and anti-party activities. Akhilesh Kumar was also sacked for indiscipline and anti-party activities.

Akshay Yadav, Ram Gopal’s son and Firozbad MP, had also criticised the move to expel the three men from the Samajwadi Party.