The Samajwadi Party on Saturday apparently formalised the break-up of alliance with Shivpal Yadav’s party and Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP), saying they are free to join other parties if they feel they will get more respect there.
Akhilesh Yadav’s uncle Shivpal Yadav is an SP MLA and president of the Pragatisheel Samaj Party (Lohia) while Om Prakash Rajbhar is the SBSP chief.
The SP told Shivpal Yadav and Rajbhar that they were free to leave the alliance. The development follows in the backdrop of both Shivpal Yadav and Rajbhar breaking ranks with the SP over the opposition’s presidential candidate.
In a letter shared by the SP on its official Twitter handle, the party said, “Shivpal Yadav ji, if you think you’ll get more respect somewhere else, you are free to leave.”
In another tweet, the SP said, “Om Prakash Rajbhar ji, Samajwadi Party has been constantly fighting against the BJP. You are allied with the BJP and working to strengthen the party. If you think you’ll get more respect elsewhere, you are free to leave.”
The letter carries a signature without the name of the authorised signatory. SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary confirmed that the party has issued the office memorandum to Shivpal and Rajbhar, asking them that they are free to leave the alliance.
On why the name of the authorised signatory is missing from the office memorandum, Chaudhary said: “The Samajwadi Party is bigger than any individual and the order has been issued by the party, hence there was no need for the name of the signatory.”
After the SP’s open letter, Shivpal Singh Yadav tweeted, “Although I was always free, I sincerely thank you for giving me formal independence by issuing a letter. Compromising on principles and respect is unacceptable in a political journey.”
Meanwhile, Rajbhar also issued a letter to Akhilesh Yadav, saying: “Where I want to go is not yours but my party’s decision.”
“I was associated with you and the Samajwadi Party so that I could fight for the rights of the backward, downtrodden, weaker sections and minorities. I felt that the Samajwadi Party would do good to these sections. But I regret to say that after joining the SP when I looked closely at its functioning, I saw all the truth. The truth is that the Samajwadi Party under your leadership does not think of fighting for the rights of the backward, downtrodden, weaker sections and minorities and making them elected participants in politics,” Rajbhar said in a letter to SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.
“I voted for Droupadi Murmu ji in the presidential election because she belongs to the tribal society and the fight continues even today. I know you didn’t like this,” Rajbhar said. The SBSP chief added: “Where I have to go now, it will not be decided by you, but by our party (SBSP) and its office-bearers.”
The UP government had accorded ‘Y’ category security to Rajbhar days after his party broke ranks with the SP and voted for the NDA’s presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said: “This is the character of the Samajwadi Party. SP has a trend of shaking hands with the parties, allying with them and then shooing them away.”
“First, they allied with tje Congress and then parted ways. Then they tried riding on the elephant (the election symbol of the Bahujan Samaj Party), but did not like it. Now, it is the turn of PSPL and SBSP. This is the character of the party and they are not trustworthy. How can a person who betrayed his father be expected to stay with his allies,” he added.