Samajwadi Party general secretary and leader in the Rajya Sabha Ram Gopal Yadav has admitted that there is some differences within the party. He said the differences in opinion on certain issue was an integral part of the democratic politics and there was nothing unusual if the leaders of the party have different view on issues related to next assembly elections and alliance.
The SP leader also said that the party is likely to forge alliance with some small parties and could leave some seats for like minded parties in the coming assembly polls in 2017. He however refused to divulge the name of the party.
“There is maatbhed within the party but not maanbhed(We have some differences but this dispute is not in our minds), “he said in Etawah on Saturday.
Ram Gopal Yadav said such situation exists in every political party as any consensual decision is taken only after consulting all including the rank and file of the party. The SP leader said thin in response to a question about the recent turmoil in the party over the dispute between Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle and PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav over the alliance/ merger with the Mukhtar Ansari’s Quami Ekta Dal. Shivpal Yadav had even announced to resign from the party and join the opposition ranks.
The SP leader said that the party could leave some seats for smaller parties in the assembly polls only if party president Mulayam Singh Yadav endorses the proposal. He also said that the issue of merger of Quami Ekta Dal of Mukhtar Ansari with SP is in the court of party president.
Refusing to comment anything on Amar Singh, the SP general secretary claimed that the party will win 250 seats in the assembly polls and there is no contest as such with other parties.
To a poser about the charges of land grabbing against the Samajwadi party leaders in the state, he said ``if there are complaints then the administration should take punitive action against the offenders’’.
The SP leader reacting on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pro dalit statements said that people should not take the matter seriously as during election such statements are made. He said dalits can no longer be taken for granted by any political party as they are educated and organised and have the capacity to decide about their well being. When asked to comment on the three talaqs issue before the Supreme Court, he said no religion wants interference in its religious matters.