UP Election 2017: Mulayam Singh Yadav shouldn't have been treated this way, says wife Sadhna

On Tuesday, Sadhna Yadav, the wife of Samajwadi Party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav, said that 'Netaji shouldn't have been treated the way he was' in reference to the family feud that happened before the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls between the father-son duo.

Speaking the ANI, she said, "No matter what, nobody should have disrespected Netaji, it is he who founded and nurtured the party."

When asked about the way Mulayam's brother Shivpal Yadav was treated during the highly publicised family feud, she said, "He should not have been insulted,he was not at fault. He has done a lot for Netaji and the party."

Absolving Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav of his role in the party dispute, she said, "I don't know who misled Akhilesh, he respects Netaji and me a lot."

She also expressed hope that Samajwadi Party wins the Uttar Pradesh elections and hoped for Akhilesh to continue his tenure as the chief minister of the state.

Refuting allegations made against her about her involvement in the transfer of a chief Secretary, she said, "A Chief Secy was transferred, people said I was behind it. Its false, though I wish I was so powerful.

She also expressed strong desire to join politics in a big way, "I won't back down now. I have been insulted enough. Yes I felt bad after what happened in the family, but I don't blame anyone (for allegations on her)."

She added, "Earlier, Netaji didn't let me join politics but I help in the background. But now I don't want to enter politics, but yes I would like my son Prateek to enter politics."

Prateek Yadav, half brother to Akhilesh, has been active in politics for a while, gaining support from the party leaders. Prateek and is pitted against BJP's Rita Bahuguna Joshi who had crossed over to the BJP from the Congress just before elections

Sadhna Yadav had broken the icy silence earlier in February when she voted for the elections and showed support for Akhilesh.

According to CNN News-18, she had earlier said, "Akhilesh is my elder son and I am his mother. There is no stepmotherly treatment."

Party members have been apprehensive that the internal feud in SP may damage party prospects in this round of polls.