After five years of covert and overt infighting and a month after the crushing electoral defeat, the Samajwadi Party formally split wide open with senior leader Shivpal Yadav announcing the launch of a new political front `Samajwadi Secular Morcha’ at Etawah on Friday.
Mulayam Singh Yadav will head the new front. If things go as per plan, then Mulayam and his brother Shivpal stand to face disqualification from the membership of lok Sabha and UP Assembly respectively under the Anti-defection law.
‘Good riddance’ was the instant response of the Akhilesh Yadav camp. Akhilesh later welcomed the move saying, “I have no information whether any front has been announced. I heard about it a few days ago about the proposal. I welcome the move. We Samajwadis are always in a state of alert to face any scrutiny and challenge and hav always come out with flying colours. Strengthening secularism is the need of the hour and such a front will work for the purpose’’.
Founded in 1992 by Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party was split in its silver jubilee year. With this, the party’s first family too stands divided with Mulayam Singh, his brothers and son all pulling in different directions.
The Front aims to enlist the support of different political parties and fight for the cause of social justice and secularism. While Shivpal Yadav claimed that his brother Mulayam Singh would head the outfit, an official confirmation was awaited from the latter. He is presently the patron of Samajwadi Party.
When asked whether he had obtained Mulayam’s approval, Shivpal shot back, “Do you think such a big decision could have been taken without his approval. The prime objective of the Morcha is to strengthen the forces of secularism and social justice.”
“Neta ji ko unka sammaan vapas dilane aur Samajwadi ko ek saath laane ke liye is morche ka gathan kiyaa gayaa hai,’’ (To restore the respect due to Netaji, and to bring the real samajwadis together, we have decided to float the secular front), said Shivpal.
Both Mulayam Singh and Shivpal Yadav are in Etawah and both had a long meeting at the residence of their brother-in-law Agent Singh Yadav where Shivpal announced the floating of the new outfit. Mulayam Singh refused to answer queries of waiting newsmen on whether he would head the new front.
Earlier this week, Shivpal Yadav had threatened to form a new outfit if Akhilesh did not hand over the party reins to his father Mulayam Singh.
Akhilesh took over the SP on January 1 this year, few days ahead of the Assembly polls were announced. The Samajwadi Party went to the hustings in alliance with Congress. But the alliance suffered a huge drubbing at the hands of the BJP.
After filing his nomination for the polls in January, Shivpal had declared his intent to form a new party once the election results were declared.
Shivpal’s move of floating a new outfit ahead of the crucial urban local bodies poll in June and President’s elections in July has dealt a severe blow to the efforts of Opposition parties to put up a united front or `grand alliance’ against the BJP.
Soon after the Assembly poll results were announced on March 11, BSP president Mayawati had expressed desire to join hands with anti-BJP parties. Akhilesh too had endorsed her idea.
The floating of a new outfit by Shivpal Yadav will not only weaken the Samajwadi Party but also seriously jolt the efforts for united Opposition thereby benefiting the BJP.