Undeterred by the refusal by patron Mulayam Singh Yadav to support his new political venture, dissident Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav said that there was no question of a ‘roll back’ and the `Samajwadi Secular Morcha’ would soon be a reality. Several senior SP leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Beni Prasad Verma, have extended their support to the newly floated Morcha.
``The framework of Samajwadi Secular Morcha (SSM) is being worked out and a formal announcement in this regard will be made at an appropriate and auspicious time,’’ said SP leader Shivpal Singh Yadav in lucknow on Tuesday. He however refused to comment whether the SSM will eventually part ways with Samajwadi Party or exist within its ambit.
“The SSM is a forum of different like-minded parties. The idea was approved as there are many like-minded parties which are ready to extend support to us to fight communal forces,” Shivpal said.
A SP leader close to Shivpal Yadav saidm “The Morcha will attempt to bring all Socialist leaders from UP under one umbrella to fight communal and divisive forces. It will try to follow and imbibe principles of Ram Manohar lohia, Acharya Narendra Dev, Jai Prakash Narayan, Charan Singh and other Socialist icons.”
Morcha sources claimed that senior SP leaders Bhagwati Singh and former Union minister Beni Prasad Verma were also in touch with leaders of the SSM. Even some office bearers of frontal outfits of SP were said to be in touch with Morcha leaders.
The Morcha was announced by Shivpal Yadav at Etawah on May 5, wherein he annointed his elder brother and SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav as its president.
Since September last year, the SP had been witness to a bitter feud between Shivpal and nephew Akhilesh in the run up to the UP Assembly polls. After the poll, Sivpal had asked Akhilesh to hand over reins ofthe party Mulayam Singh as promised or else he would float a new outfit.
Recently, Mulayam Singh Yadav had admitted that annointing Akhilesh the Chief Minister in 2012 was the biggest mistake of his life. Referring to Akhilesh, Yadav Senior had said that the voters have realised that one who was not loyal to his father, could not be loyal to anyone and hence the party was routed in the elections.