The first family of the Samajwadi party headed by party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav met here on Monday and deliberated over the issue of whether to go all alone in next Assembly election and contest the poll on the sole plank of development or explore the possibilities of alliance with other political parties, including the Congress.
Right now the ruling party is busy hammering out the issue of battle of development vs alliance. SP sources said party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav also favours alliance with small parties but he before taking a decision wants to consult all stake holders and create a consensus within the party over the issue. The meeting of the first family to hammer out the issue remained inconclusive and all members will meet again.
The meeting was attended by the SP general secretary and spokesman Ram Gopal Yadav, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle and PWD Minister Shivpal Yadav. SP sources said Shivpal Yadav and Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh is pressing for alliance with Rashtriya k Dal, Quami Ekta Dal and also exploring the possibility of electoral understanding with the Congress while Ram Gopal Yadav and the Chief Minister are against alliance with any party and favour going to the 2017 Assembly polls on the sole poll plank of development works done by the SP Government during the last over four years.
Samajwadi party sources said Shivpal Yadav pushed the line of alliance with small political parties. He is reported to have pleaded that the electoral battle would get very tough if the party decides to go alone in the elections. “Time is running out for conducting the negotiations for alliance which includes working out the seat sharing formula. If we delay it further than all other parties will decide their line and position and entering into alliance with any party will be difficult’’, said a SP leader who is privy to ongoing battle within the first family of the SP.
Sources said the recent outburst by Shivpal Yadav on August 14 over he being ignored in the party and the Government and illegal activities of the party leaders was the manifestation of his frustration over the deadlock in the party over the issue of alliance. None other than the party chief Mulayam Singh came to the rescue of his younger brother and publically rebuked his son and the Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav only to create some political space for his younger brother in the party and prevent him from taking any hasty decision. Amar Singh, who was expelled from the party in January 2010 and readmitted after six years and nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the party in June last, also fired a salvo in favour of Shivpal Yadav on Monday.
“Balram Yadav, Shivpal Yadav and I were insulted in the Samajwadi party. Jayaprada was appointed as the chairperson of the Film development board but she was removed at the instance of Jaya Bacchan. I want to meet the Chief Minister but not getting an appointment and the Chief Minister’s office tells me that my name has been to the Chief Minister. Now this is my level in the Samajwadi party, said Amar Singh in Delhi on Monday.