It was Akhilesh's day right from the morning in the Samajwadi Party

Lucknow: Two things have emerged out of day-long meetings by Samajwadi Party leaders on Saturday : stature of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has grown in the party and he has come out of the shadow of his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Whatever may be the number of legislators present at the meeting called by him the fact that his and his uncle Ram Gopal Yadav's expulsions were withdrawn by the party president within 24 hours indicates he has become a force to reckon with and cannot be dismissed lightly.

It is also more or less clear that Mulayam cares more about him than others in the party including senior party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav who has been virtually cornered.

In this light it also appears that his list of candidates will be given due weightage and his main supporters will not be ignored as was feared.

At the end of the day many epithets were used and new phrases and words coined to describe his " victory". Tipu (Akhilesh's nickname) has become a Sultan is one of them. He is no more a father's son or mama's boy...He has established himself as a leader in his own right....are some others.

Comparison is odious but if it has to be made both Mulayam and Shivpal have cut a sorry figure. Clearly, the decision to expel was taken in haste and without properly assessing the situation in the party. It was also unconstitutional, as has been pointed out by Ram Gopal.

Notices were served on the two in the evening and within a couple of hours they were expelled from the party for six years . The normal practice is to give sufficient time for replies and if the party leadership is not satisfied with their replies action is taken. This was given a good-bye in their cases.

Controversial party leader due to some of the utterance, Azam Khan, has emerged as a hero of the day. It was he who has been mainly credited with change in the mood of Mulayam. He was closeted with him for about an hour this morning. Later he met Akhilesh for a considerable time and came back to Mulayam along with him. A compromise formula was worked out during these meetings initiated by him.

Former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav too telephoned Mulayam and Akhilesh this morning and urged them to end the family feud but it was Azam who played a decisive role.

Peace has returned to the family, at least for now, as Shivpal has announced himself that the party list of candidates, which was a bone of contention, would be prepared in consultation with Mulayam and Akhilesh. However, there is no clarity so far on a few issues.

Akhilesh is totally opposed to party tickets for coming elections to tainted leaders like Atique Ahmed but both Mulayam and Shivpal have nothing against them. In fact all these leaders who have been disliked by Akhilesh have found place in Mulayam's list. It is not yet known what will be their fate.

Young chief minister , however, has scored another point.. Akhilesh could not see eye to eye with party Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh and he had made his displeasure known. He has been shown the door.