Lucknow: In a significant late night development, senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Shivpal Singh Yadav resigned from the Akhilesh Yadav cabinet on Thursday. He also resigned as the party’s state unit president, a post to which he was appointed just two days ago, a senior party source said.

Shivpal Yadav took the decision after a meeting with his elder brother and party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. He sent his resignation to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

The development is being seen as a rebuff to all possibilities of coming together of the once powerful minister and his nephew, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the Chief Minister has returned the resignation of his uncle.

Soon after Shivpal Yadav sent his resignation to his nephew Chief Minister, his son and Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Pradeshik Cooperative Federation, Aditya Yadav, also quit the post.

Close aides of the former PWD minister informed that Shivpal has returned all government perks and facilities, like official staff and vehicles, and will be vacating his official residence, 7, Kalidas Marg on Friday. Shivpal’s official residence is adjacent to the official 5, Kalidas Marg, residence of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. The development further shook the ruling party in the state with its stalwart leader Shivpal throwing in the towel and getting ready for a showdown.

Earlier in the day Shivpal had ruled out quitting the ministry and said it was immaterial which posts he held as a minister.

Akhilesh Yadav had on Tuesday stripped his uncle Shivpal from the plum posts of PWD, Cooperative and Irrigation minister.