One of the biggest reasons for the defeat of Samajwadi Party (SP) in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections was infighting. Today, the final nail in the coffin was struck when party leader Shivpal Yadav announced a split.
An SP supporter waves a photo of Akhilesh Yadav and holds a toy cycle after the symbol was handed to the then CM. REUTERS/Pawan Kumar
Before a gaggle of reporters at Etawah, Yadav announced the formation of Samajwadi Secular Morcha (SSM). He said that the new party will be headed by his brother and SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Neta ji ko unka sammaan vapas dilane, aur Samajawadion ko ek saath laane ke liye is morche ka jald hi ailaan hoga:Shivpal Yadav to ANI
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 5, 2017
He said, “Very soon we will announce this front in order to bring back the lost honor of ‘Netaji’ (Mulayam Singh Yadav) and bring together all socialists.”
The announcement was made after a meeting between Shivpal and his brother-in-law Ajant Singh. The senior Yadav was, however, not present in the meeting.
I suspect BJP will love this news. Even the united SP was struggling, but a split SP will fight each other, not any other party https://t.co/6k6FhUqVFO
— Prosenjit Datta (@ProsaicView) May 5, 2017
It should be noted here that the infighting in the Yadav family just before the elections had created two camps – one loyal to former chief minister and Mulayam’s son Akhilesh Yadav and another loyal to the party founder.
The rift between Akhilesh and his father had come to the fore in late 2016 itself. Pramod Adhikari
Shivpal has always sided with his brother while chastising the former CM and Akhilesh’s uncle Ram Gopal Yadav, who was in camp Akhilesh.
Following a dispute just before the elections, the Election Commission had given the right to use the ‘cycle’ symbol to Akhilesh Yadav technically making him the in-charge of the party.
Founded by Mulayam Singh in 1992, the SP has been in power three times but completed the five-year full tenure only under Akhilesh.
But to Twitterati, the announcement offers its own set of laughs:
Samajwadi Party is split. New wing is Samajwadi Secular Morcha. After 2 more splits, we’ll have Sovereign Samajwadi Secular Democratic party
— Rahul Raj (@bhak_sala) May 5, 2017
New party Samajwadi Secular Morcha will be headed by Mulayam Singh Yadav because retiring from politics at 77 years is too lame and coward
— PratK (@pratkgupta) May 5, 2017
Shivpal Yadav Announces Launch Of New Party ‘Samajwadi Secular Morcha’ With Mulayam Singh Yadav As Chief.
As If Other Parties Are Communal pic.twitter.com/EeJRu4iIhs
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) May 5, 2017
From a bicycle to a unicycle…. Mulayam has a hard fall…
“Samajwadi Secular Morcha” a new name to a old brand of politics!— Long Tongued Indian (@ImIndiasMe) May 5, 2017
Samajwadi Secular Morcha is going to be another full time short lived entertainment
— Amarjeet Rathore (@vistadreamz) May 5, 2017
Samajwadi Secular Morcha? Chand Sitara election symbol n jaliddar topi compulsory for karyakarta. Flag only green without red
— Atul Chaturvedi (@qwertyuiopaqwe) May 5, 2017
