Ram Gopal Yadav reinstated in Samajwadi Party; to continue as party's leader in Rajya Sabha

Weeks after being expelled, Ram Gopal Yadav was on Thursday reinstated in Samajwadi Party (SP) with immediate effect.

"Ram Gopal would continue to be the leader of Samajwadi party in Rajya Sabha, party spokesperson, national general secretary and member of party parliamentary board," said SP Supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav in a letter.

"This was expected to happen. Netaji (Mulayam) was never against me. I was always in the party, but was just technically removed," Yadav said giving his first reaction after being reinstated. "I have never said or done anything against the party line," he added.

On Monday, Yadav broke down while defending the corruption charges levelled against him and said that injustice has been meted out to him. "I still believe that I am a part of the Samajwadi Party even if I am not operating officially," he had told the media.  "If the people think that injustice has been done with me then they should do justice," he said.

Without taking any specific names, he alleged that some people were illegally distributing the Samajwadi Party ticket for their ulterior motives.