Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has been embarrassed by his own father, Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who has publicly admonished him and criticized his government for "sitting on files."

While speaking at a government event, Mulayam Singh did not spare either Akhilesh Yadav or Azam Khan, a powerful state minister who is said to be close to the Samajwadi party chief.

"Aye Mukhyamantri sun lo! (Hey, Chief Minister, listen). Officers are sitting on files. Chaploos (stooges) are running the government. Stooges always cheat you, they are never good for a chief minister's image," Mulayam Singh said, addressing his son, who smiled gamely.

"Azam Khan, please start working," was his rebuke for the minister, who was seated next to Akhilesh Yadav.

Yadav added that once he had to step in to get a file cleared after it was delayed by over a month.

The Samajwadi party chief's outburst reflects his nervousness ahead of the national election, due by May.

Sources close to him say he is worried that the performance of his party's government will drag him down in the polls. -- NDTV