Shivpal Yadav’s morcha says it is ‘not demoralised’ by Mulayam at SP event

India वोट Kar | September 27, 2018

The Samajwadi Secular Morcha (SSM), founded by Shivpal Yadav, said on Wednesday that it was not discouraged by Mulayam Singh Yadav’s presence at a Samajwadi Party event in New Delhi. The morcha said it would keep pursuing its socialist agenda, strengthen its organisation and continue to respect the SP founder.

What the morcha said

SSM spokesman Deepak Mishra said the outfit was moving ahead with building its organisation. Asked about media reports that Mulayam’s photographs were missing from some banners after he attended the conclusion of the SP’s cycle yatra, Mishra said the morcha respected him and that any missing pictures could be due to errors or other reasons.

Mishra said the SSM had named in-charges for 14 divisions, appointed senior Samajwadi leader CP Rai as chief spokesman and was expanding its team. He added that Shivpal Yadav had met the Election Commission. Last week the morcha unveiled its flag and offered Mulayam, Shivpal’s elder brother, the Mainpuri Lok Sabha seat, an SP stronghold, on its ticket.

Mulayam’s remarks at the SP event

At the SP event, Mulayam said he had always wanted the party to stay young and be led by the young, a remark widely read as clear backing for his son Akhilesh Yadav’s leadership. He also asked Akhilesh to hold district and state committee meetings every month and to give women more responsibility. Akhilesh accepted the advice and said he would always follow what “Netaji” suggested.

Background

Shivpal Yadav launched the morcha last month, saying he would seek the support of neglected party workers. He has said he is ready to field candidates in all 80 of Uttar Pradesh’s Lok Sabha seats in 2019, leaving out Mainpuri, where Mulayam is likely to stand, and claimed to have Mulayam’s blessings. According to him, the morcha was set up to defend his honour, not to win a post in the SP. He was removed as SP state president after Akhilesh took over as national president.