Samajwadi Secular Morcha founder Shivpal Yadav said that barring ‘Netaji’ (Mulayam Singh Yadav), his party would not support any candidate even if he/she was from his family. On Saturday, Yadav met senior Samajwadi Party leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Bhagwati Singh and sought his blessings. “We are busy expanding our base and more people and leaders are willing to join the Morcha. Our new party will play a significant role in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. We will play a prominent role in strengthening the secular block against the BJP,” said Shivpal in Lucknow on Saturday.
The warring uncle of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav added: “The time for patch-up or any understanding with the SP brass is gone. I have waited for two good years before taking this decision.”
After breaking away from his nephew-led Samajwadi Party, Shivpal began from a scratch. From convincing disgruntled Samajwadis to join his party to initiating social media campaigns for bringing more youths into the fold, Shivpal Yadav has been busy in ‘party strengthening exercises’ recently.
Sources said that preparations to make the SSM’s presence felt in UP politics were in full swing and leaders from across the state were visiting Shivpal Yadav everyday at his house in Lucknow.
Remembering his days with the SP patriarch, Shivpal said: “I have even washed netaji’s clothes. I always helped everyone but was cheated many times. I can tolerate ‘chori’ (theft) but not ‘dakaiti’ (robbery). I will keep fighting for social justice through the Morcha. There is no point re-considering the decision to quit the SP.”
Sources in the Shivpal camp said that names of the Morcha office-bearers were being finalised. While two lists of Morcha spokespersons are already out, the district units and office-bearers will be finalised soon. By mid-October, formalities related to the registration of the party will be completed.
Even Yadav is not wasting a single minute and reaching out to senior and important politicians on a day-to-day basis. The support team at Yadav’s house on Vikramaditya Marg is busy working on social media campaigns and taking care of workers who are turning up to meet their leader.
