Former Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav said that there was no possibility of a patch up with the Samajwadi Party and the newly-formed Samajwadi Secular Morcha would not wind up. After a bitter and long drawn war of attrition with his nephew and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, Shivpal recently parted company and floated Samajwadi Secular Morcha, announcing to contest all 80 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Making his first public appearance after floating the outfit, Shivpal said in Lucknow on Tuesday that he had put things in the past and would work tirelessly for strengthening the new outfit.  On Tuesday, Shivpal presided over a workers’ convention of the little known ‘Srikrishna Vahani’ - a Yadav-dominated organisation.

Addressing a congregation, Shivpal said: “In the coming days, the SSM will scale new heights in UP and there is no question of looking back. Every day, former leaders of the Samajwadi Party, who were humiliated and were feeling suffocated, are joining the Morcha. Former MLA Kamal Yusuf and former MP Raghuraj Singh Shakya have already joined the Morcha and many more will join in the coming days,” said Shivpal.

Without naming any SP leader, the SSM chief added: “I can tolerate theft but can never tolerate dacoity. I have been fighting for the honour of Mulayam Singh Yadav. I have no lust for power and my only wish is to get respect. But I was humiliated by SP brass and hence I decided to part company. Now we will contest all 80 Lok Sabha seats in 2019 elections.”

Srikrishna Vahini president Vijay Yadav said: “Even Lord Ram had to undergo 14 years of exile in the forest. Similarly, Shivpal Yadav was exiled close to two years. The 2019 Lok Sabha poll will show Akhilesh Yadav his actual place in the state politics as youths of the state were solidly behind Shivpalji.” Vijay said that Sri Krishna Vahini had resolved to make Shivpal Yadav the next Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh after the 2022 Assembly elections.