Shivpal didn’t speak to me about front, says Mulayam
Samajwadi Party supremo rules out split in party, says brother will listen to him
LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party (SP) patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav said on Saturday his brother Shivpal didn’t speak to him before announcing the formation of an all-India secular front.
In an exclusive interview to HT, Mulayam said he would talk to Shivpal and pacify him, and that no one in the family or party wanted a split in the 25-year-old Samajwadi Party.
“I have not met Shivpal for the last one week... He has not spoken to me as yet about it (the front)… I will talk to him,” a visibly relaxed Mulayam told HT in Lucknow.
“As for the front, he has simply given a statement. I will talk to him, pacify him.”
The statement came a day after the 62-year-old Shivpal, former UP president of the party, announced that he will form within three months the Samajwadi Secular Morcha (SSM) that will be led by Mulayam.
Shivpal didn’t make it clear if he was walking out of the Samajwadi Party or if the new front will enter electoral politics.
But the SSM’s formation was seen as a fresh twist in a monthslong battle between Shivpal and his nephew Akhilesh for control of the party – a dispute that was held responsible for the party’s bruising defeat in state elections two months ago.
But Mulayam appeared to dismiss any speculation of a split. “Nobody in the family or party want it to split. What will they get if the party divides and weakens?”
“He (Shivpal) is hurt. I don’t know why my son Akhilesh Yadav doesn’t like him. I will always stand by my brother who has struggled and suffered so much for me and the party,” Mulayam said.
Shivpal had on Friday, announced he was floating a new secular front, without any clarity on whether this was a new party and whether he was breaking away from the SP.
“He (Mulayam) is very much on the board. Without his blessings we would not have taken such a major step,” hd had said.
The party’s national president Akhilesh Yadav had ‘welcomed’ the idea, but also obliquely referred to him as a backstabber.
“Hum political log hain, aasteen ke saanp ko pehchan letey hain (we are political people and know how to identify a backstabber),” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister reportedly said.
Political circles may be abuzz with news of Shivpal Yadav announcing the formation of an all-India secular front but in Lucknow, Mulayam Singh is visibly relaxed and says he’s sure the Samajwadi Party (SP) will remain one. In an interview to HT’s
Sunita Aron, Mulayam said he will always stand by his brother. Excerpts:
Shivpal announced the formation of a secular socialist front under your leadership. Has he taken your blessings for the same?
No, I have not met Shivpal for the past one week. He is returning from Etawah this evening. He has not spoken to me yet about it and may have given a statement after talking to some leaders. I will talk to him.
Then why did Shivpal announce the formation of a front without discussing it with you?
He is hurt. I don’t know why my son Akhilesh doesn’t like him. After all he is his uncle. I will always stand by my brother who has suffered so much for me and the party. As for the front, he has simply given a statement. I will talk to him, pacify him.
You think that your party is splitting?
Nobody in the family or party wants it to split. What will they get if the party divides and weakens? Some elements, both inside and outside the party, may be conspiring to break SP as it alone can defeat the BJP.
But a split in the party seems imminent as differences in the family are only escalating.
Which party doesn’t face ups and downs? Otherwise also it is the public and the cadre that decides the future of any party. And I am confident about their support for me and my party. As for the family, there are no differences, there may be expectations.
Are you pained by the developments?
Of course I am. I have slogged to raise the party independently. We had formed the government within 11 months of forming the party. But now people who have not struggled or gone to jail occupy positions. Yes, the developments pain me but I am sure SP and the Yadav family will remain one.
Shivpal is talking about bringing together secular and socialist forces on one platform.
I’ve always been of the view that only the weak enter alliances. We might have lost the 2017 elections but remain the strongest opposition party in the state. I disfavoured an alliance with the Congress as I think the SP could have fought the communal forces independently in the 2017 elections. I did not campaign for the party and won all the 11 seats where I held public meetings.
But do you think a front is required to checkmate PM Modi’s juggernaut?
2019 is still far off. We will devise some strategy but it is a fact that no front without the SP can take on the communal forces in the state and the country.
Shivpal wants Akhilesh to return the party’s presidentship to you.
(Laughs) You think positions are in any way important to me? Or does my status in Indian politics depend on positions? I may not be national president of the party but command more respect today. Positions no longer matter to me.
What about speculations of Shivpal and Aparna Yadav joining the BJP?
(Laughs) Never ever! Shivpal will only do what I want him to do and I will also keep him with me always.