Shivpal Singh Yadav, the warring uncle of Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, on Friday announced that his newly-formed Samajwadi Secular Morcha would contest all the 80 parliamentary seats in UP in the 2019 lok Sabha election.
“In the upcoming lok Sabha election, the Morcha will contest all the 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh,” Shivpal said in Baghpat on Friday. Shivpal had launched the new outfit on August 29, complaining that he had been sidelined in the Samajwadi Party.
He still remains an SP legislator.
Shivpal asserted that his main aim behind forming the Morcha was to change the fortunes of Uttar Pradesh. “Our main aim is to change the fortune of the state. That is why the people and parties with similar mentality will come together under this umbrella,” he said.
“We will tie up with smaller parties and unite those neglected and humiliated and contest the polls with full strength. Without our support no government will be formed at the Centre,” Shivpal said, and added, “The morcha will also do well in the 2022 UP Assembly elections.”
“We will emerge as a strong party in the 2022 Assembly poll. Our journey has started and it will not stop,” Shivpal said, adding that he was “humiliated in the SP on many occasions”. Furthermore, he said, “I have constituted the Samajwadi Secular Morcha for national integration. The dissenting leaders of the Samajwadi Party and those who have been insulted will further strengthen the Morcha,”
On being asked if he had differences with the Samajwadi Party or with Akhilesh Yadav, Shivpal said, “I am fighting for all those who are being ignored in the party and have been insulted.”
Shivpal was unceremoniously removed from the post of SP state president after his nephew Akhilesh assumed charge as the party’s national president in January 2017, edging out his father Mulayam Singh Yadav.