Rashtriya lok Dal chief Ajit Singh charged the Samajwadi Party with strengthening the hands of communal forces ahead of the crucial UP Assembly poll by refusing to stitch an alliance with other secular parties.
A new secular political formation comprising Janata Dal (United), Rashtriya lok Dal (RlD) and local outfit BS-4 on Monday announced to contest the UP Assembly polls under one banner and accused SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav of ‘ditching’ them and not following the ideals of Ram Manohar lohia and Chaudhury Charan Singh.
“By refusing to align with other like-minded parties, the Samajwadi Party has weakened the secular forces in UP,’’ said Alit Singh at a Press conference in lucknow on Monday flanked by JD(U) leaders Sharad Yadav and KC Tyagi.
“Mulayam Singh has strayed from the path of Socialism. He should say categorically as to what he desires. During the Bihar Assembly polls in 2015, he deserted the anti-BJP secular grand alliance claiming that the SP would lose its identity by merging with other parties of Janata parivar. In UP, he has suddenly developed new ideas saying that the SP will not ally with any party and will only accept merger,’’ said Alit.
Asked as to why the SP is frequently changing its stand on alliance and merger, the RlD leader quipped, “This question should be asked from Mulayam Singh.’’
“There is nothing new in the political conduct of Mulayam Singh Yadav and he keeps changing his stand. He invited us to the SP’s silver jubilee programme on November 5 and spoke on alliance and seat sharing. later, he developed cold feets and announced that SP will only accept merger of other parties with itself. This shows that he has deviated from the path of lohia and Charan Singh and pursuing some other ideals,’’ said Ajit Singh.
“Now it’s too late for merger. So the three parties have decided to join hands and our doors are open for other secular parties as well,’’ said the RlD chief. Replying to a question on Congress joining the bandwagon, Ajit Singh said, “There has been no talks with the Congress yet but their participation cannot be ruled out. Prashant Kishor had met Mulayam Singh twice over the alliance, but PK did not meet us.” JD(U) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sharad Yadav said, “We have tried hard for the unity of lohia and Charan Singh followers. But Mulayam has always created confusion even as we accepted his leadership before Bihar polls and now ahead of UP polls.”