Split in SP? Mulayam Singh Yadav likely to announce next political move

Lucknow: All eyes are on veteran socialist leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is expected to make major announcements at a press conference in the state capital on Monday.

It is speculated that Mulayam may announce a new political outfit during the press conference which is expected to start around 11:00 am at the Ram Manohar Lohia trust.

According to sources, Singh is likely to announce the new party along with virtually defunct Lok Dal and is also likely retain the 'samajwadi' tag in its name.

The hint of an imminent split in the SP came on Sunday when Mulayam and his brother-aide Shivpal Yadav stayed away from a state convention of the party - which they had founded 25 years ago - saying they were not invited.

Even as the SP prepared for the convention, sources said the two brothers pondered over the formation of a secular front under the banner of Lok Dal, hinting fresh differences in the party weakened already by the factional feud which proved to be its nemesis in the Assembly polls earlier this year.

The strains were palpable ahead of its state and national convention, with Mulayam replacing Akhilesh Yadav-loyalist Ram Gopal with Shivpal Yadav as the secretary of the Lohia Trust.

Mulayam's brother Shivpal had in June announced that he would float the Samajwadi Secular Front "to fight communal forces".

Asked about Singh's claims that the two brothers will work under the banner of Lok Dal, another Shivpal-loyalist said, "Mulayam may not like to shun the Samajwadi tag. The situation will be clear when Netaji will disclose his future course of action."

Importantly, the posters at the SP convention did not have pictures of Mulayam and Shivpal, giving ample hints about their place in the party.

The convention saw a realignment of forces within the SP as senior leader Azam Khan attended the event and lashed out at the "people who have betrayed the party", in an apparent reference to Shivpal, his one-time friend, and confidant.

Another surprise presence was that of SP MP Beni Prasad Varma, whose inclusion in the party last year was said to have triggered the battle within the family.

To top it all, SP president Akhilesh Yadav in his address cautioned his supporters against "fake samajwadis".

In Election Commission records, Lok Dal is a registered, unrecognised party that was formed by veteran socialist leader Charan Singh way back in 1980 and Mulayam was its founder- member.

Lok Dal has the old election symbol of a farmer ploughing the field. Fighting on the symbol, Charan Singh had become the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

Mulayam, who was opposed to the SP-Congress alliance during the Assembly elections, was offered Lok Dal symbol and president's post by Sunil Singh.

The Yadav family feud came to the fore about a year ago and led to Akhilesh snatching the mantle of the SP national president from his father at an emergency national convention of the party here on January 1.

Taking full control of the party after being crowned as its head and alloted the 'bicycle' symbol by the EC on January 16, Akhilesh has been going the whole hog consolidating his grip over the party. 

With PTI inputs