Lucknow: Ending speculation about his return
to BJP, its former leader Kalyan Singh on Tuesday floated a new
political outfit - Jan Kranti Party - on the occasion of his
77th birthday.
"Respecting the sentiments of my supporters, who suggested
that instead of joining any other party we should have our own
organisation, I today announce to float the new party," Singh
told reporters here.
He made the announcement nearly two months after parting
ways with SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.
"Nai party ka apna jhanda hoga, agenda hoga aur anushashan
ka danda hoga (The new party will have its own flag, own
agenda and strict discipline)," he said.
This is the second time Kalyan has floated a political
party within a span of a decade.
Singh said since the workers advised him that the party`s
command should be handed over to new generation, his son and
former state minister Rajveer Singh will be its national
president.
"Our aim is to have a strong presence by 2012 assembly
elections," he said.
Singh said he along with Rajveer will go to Ayodhya
tomorrow morning and pray to "Ramlala".
Once projected as the hero of Ram Temple movement and
counted among top rung leaders of the BJP, Singh had parted
ways with the party in 1999 alleging that he was being
sidelined by the high command.
In 1999 itself, Singh floated a new political outfit
Rashtriya Kranti Party (RKP) and contested 2002 state assembly
elections, in which its three candidates were elected.
Later RKP had an alliance with the SP and Kalyan`s son
Rajveer held the portfolio of Health Minister in Mulayam Singh
Yadav`s regime.
However, by 2004 Kalyan had a change of heart and he
went back to BJP, announcing RKP`s merger with it.
Last year in January, accusing the BJP high command of
sidelining him, Singh once again revolted and joined hands
with the SP supremo.
While Singh termed it as reunion with an old friend
Mulayam, his son Rajveer formally joined the SP and was
appointed as the national general secretary.
Singh later campaigned extensively for the SP during
Lok Sabha elections last year and contested from Etah with the
party`s support.
In November, he again parted ways from the SP, after
Mulayam Singh announced that Kalyan was never in the party,
nor he will be taken back in the party in future.
Reacting to Mulayam`s announcement, Singh had termed
him a "traitor".
PTI
